President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced plans by the Federal Government to deliver 154,800 affordable housing units across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas under the newly introduced Tinubu Mass Social Housing Scheme (TMSHS).
The housing initiative, to be implemented in two phases, is aimed at expanding access to decent and affordable homes for low-income earners, informal sector workers, young families and other vulnerable Nigerians.
Speaking at the opening of the 20th Africa International Housing Show (AIHS@20) in Abuja on Tuesday, Tinubu said the scheme complements the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and reflects his administration’s commitment to reducing Nigeria’s housing deficit.
Represented by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engineer Muttagha Darma, the President said the government is creating an environment that will attract local and foreign investment into the housing and infrastructure sectors.
He stressed that government alone cannot solve Africa’s housing challenges, calling for stronger collaboration among governments, financial institutions, development partners, private investors, professional bodies and communities.
Tinubu described the annual housing conference as a strategic platform for policy discussions, investment promotion, technology transfer and regional cooperation, adding that Nigeria remains committed to working with other African countries and international partners to promote sustainable cities, climate-resilient infrastructure and affordable housing.
The President also disclosed that the Federal Government is implementing policies to encourage climate-smart urban development, slum upgrading and sustainable city planning to accommodate Nigeria’s rapidly expanding urban population.
As part of efforts to strengthen planning and investment in the housing sector, he revealed that work has commenced on the National Housing Data Programme, Nigeria’s first integrated housing database. According to him, the initiative will support evidence-based policy formulation, mortgage development, investment decisions and effective housing planning.
Tinubu further said the government is digitising land administration through the National Digital Land Information System, expanding geospatial mapping and modernising land governance to improve transparency, reduce transaction costs and make land more accessible for development.
He added that the administration is promoting local production of building materials and encouraging indigenous construction technologies to reduce dependence on imports, lower housing costs, create jobs, conserve foreign exchange and boost industrial growth.
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“Housing has become a major platform for economic diversification and inclusive growth,” the President said.
Also speaking at the event, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Shehu Usman Osidi, noted that rising land prices, increasing construction costs, inadequate infrastructure and limited access to affordable mortgage financing have made homeownership increasingly difficult for many Nigerians.
He said rapid urbanisation continues to outpace housing supply across Africa, widening the affordability gap and underscoring the need for innovative financing models, supportive government policies and stronger public-private partnerships.
Osidi expressed confidence that greater collaboration among stakeholders would reduce the cost of housing delivery and expand access to affordable housing finance, making decent homes available to millions of Nigerians.
