MAKURDI — The Federal Government has handed over 116 completed housing units under the National Housing Programme (NHP) to the Benue State Government as part of efforts to expand access to affordable housing and deepen collaboration with state governments to tackle Nigeria’s housing deficit.
The handover ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, where the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, described the exercise as another milestone in the Federal Government’s drive to improve access to decent housing under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Represented by the Director of Public Buildings and Housing Development, QS Pemi Samuel Temitope, the minister said the National Housing Programme was established as a strategic intervention to reduce Nigeria’s housing deficit and is being implemented across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the programme goes beyond providing affordable homes by creating jobs, stimulating local economies and encouraging the use of locally sourced building materials.
Darma commended the Benue State Government for acquiring the estate, describing the move as a strategic decision that would expand access to quality and affordable housing for residents.
“Today’s ceremony is not merely the transfer of physical structures but a reflection of purposeful leadership, effective intergovernmental collaboration, and our shared commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians,” he said.
The minister also praised the administration of Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia for its investments in infrastructure and social development, saying the government had demonstrated a clear understanding of the importance of housing to human development, economic growth and social stability.
He noted that housing is a basic human need that promotes dignity, family stability, public health, security and stronger communities.
Receiving the housing units on behalf of Governor Alia, the Acting Head of Civil Service in Benue State, Dr. Eunice Ogbeniyi, expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for making the partnership possible.
She said the governor’s acquisition of the estate reflected his commitment to improving the welfare of civil servants and other residents of the state, assuring that the houses would be effectively utilised for their intended purpose.
Darma reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to working with state governments and other stakeholders to promote sustainable urban development, stressing that partnerships remain critical to expanding access to affordable housing.
He expressed confidence in the Benue State Government’s ability to manage and maintain the estate, adding that the project would support the state’s development objectives and encourage further investment in the housing sector.
The minister said the handover demonstrated what collaboration between the Federal and State Governments could achieve in building sustainable communities and improving the living conditions of Nigerians.
