The Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has called on global investors and real estate developers to partner with Nigeria in scaling housing delivery under the Renewed Hope Housing Programme, describing the country’s housing market as one of the largest, most immediate, and most bankable demand opportunities in Africa.
The Minister made this pitch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while speaking as a panellist at the 2026 Saudi Real Estate Forum (RFF 2026), held at the Four Seasons Hotel, Riyadh Kingdom Centre, during a high-level panel session on “Building Strong Foundations: The Role of Government in Real Estate.”
The session, held on Monday, 26 January 2026, brought together senior public sector leaders and policy-makers from Africa and Asia, including, Hon. Judith Nabakooba, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Uganda; H.E. Dr. Theng Chan Sangvar, Secretary of State, Ministry of Land Management, Cambodia; with the panel moderated by Mr. Rami Rafih.
In his remarks, Arc. Dangiwa stated that Nigeria’s housing strategy under the Renewed Hope Agenda is built on a clear affordability benchmark: no household should spend more than one-third of its income on housing, whether through rent or mortgage.
He explained that the Renewed Hope Housing Programme adopts an income-based framework to ensure that housing products align with citizens’ real earning realities. Under this structure, Nigeria is delivering:
- Renewed Hope Cities for higher-income earners,
- Renewed Hope Estates for middle-income families, and
- Social Housing for low to no-income Nigerians.
The Minister emphasized that affordability must be treated as a practical delivery standard—not a slogan—stressing that the Programme is designed around what Nigerians can actually pay.
Arc. Dangiwa noted that government must intervene most strongly in segments where private markets will not naturally provide solutions—particularly for low-income citizens.
He disclosed that the Programme prioritises Nigerians with the greatest need, including vulnerable groups such as internally displaced persons (IDPs), and revealed that under the Renewed Hope Social Estates initiative, 30% of housing units will be delivered free to support people who require urgent housing stability.
The Minister stated that the private sector fits most strongly in the segments where projects remain commercially viable—especially the Renewed Hope Cities and parts of the Renewed Hope Estates—which provide clearer pathways for market-based investment and returns.
He assured investors that government’s role is to de-risk housing delivery by addressing constraints only the public sector can resolve, including: land readiness, supporting infrastructure, and improvements to approvals and delivery processes that reduce cost and shorten timelines.
On risk-sharing, the Minister explained that the approach remains simple and practical: government takes on risks it can control—such as land and right-of-way—while private partners focus on construction, operations, and financing.
In closing, Arc. Dangiwa stressed that Nigeria’s housing demand is “massive and immediate,” noting that Renewed Hope Cities are already delivering in Abuja, Kano and Lagos, demonstrating that the Programme is not theoretical but is active, market-facing, and scalable.
He urged investors not to remain on the sidelines, stating that Nigeria’s message is clear: “Don’t come and watch — come and partner with us to deliver at scale.”
Signed
Badamasi S Haiba, Fsca, mnipr
Director Press and Public Relations
