January 26, 2026
Nigeria has taken its housing reform drive to the global stage, outlining a government-led, market-supported strategy to deliver affordable homes at scale during the Real Estate Future Forum (RFF) 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Speaking on a high-level panel titled “Building Strong Foundations: The Role of Government in Real Estate,” the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, said Nigeria’s approach recognises that market forces alone cannot close the country’s housing deficit, particularly for low-income households.
He explained that Nigeria defines affordable housing as housing that does not consume more than one-third of a household’s income, a benchmark that guides the country’s current reforms and public interventions.
At the centre of the strategy is the Renewed Hope Housing Programme, which Dangiwa said is designed around three distinct tracks to address different income groups: Renewed Hope Cities for higher-income earners, Renewed Hope Estates for middle-income families, and Social Housing targeted at low- to no-income Nigerians.
Under the Social Housing component, the minister disclosed that 30 per cent of the housing units will be delivered free of charge to the most vulnerable groups, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
He stressed that government intervention is necessary where the market fails, while also highlighting Nigeria’s growing partnership with the private sector to scale delivery. According to him, the government is deliberately reducing investor risk by providing basic infrastructure, ensuring land readiness, and accelerating planning and development approvals.
On sustainability, Dangiwa said Nigeria is collaborating with the International Finance Corporation’s EDGE programme to deliver energy- and water-efficient homes that lower running costs for residents and improve overall living standards.
The minister also used the platform to pitch Nigeria’s housing market to global investors, noting that demand for housing is both massive and immediate. He said Renewed Hope Cities are already being delivered in Abuja, Kano and Lagos.
“Our invitation is simple: don’t come and watch—come and partner with us to deliver at scale, backed by strong demand and a structured government framework,” Dangiwa told the forum.
The Real Estate Future Forum brings together global policymakers, developers and investors to examine the future of housing, urban development and real estate investment, with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation and inclusive growth.
