The Federal Government has handed over 129 completed housing units to beneficiaries at the Nasarawa Technology Village, Karu, Nasarawa State, as part of efforts to make affordable housing more accessible to Nigerians.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, disclosed this on Monday during the handover ceremony, saying the houses were funded by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and developed by Modern Shelter Systems and Services Limited under a Public-Private Partnership with the Nasarawa State Government.
Darma said the project was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Housing Agenda, which places housing at the centre of efforts to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
“The Renewed Hope Housing Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu places housing at the heart of improving the lives of Nigerians. Today, we are handing over keys to 129 Nigerian families,” he said.
The minister assured Nigerians that the government would continue delivering more housing units across the country.
“I want to assure Nigerians that more houses will be delivered by December 2026,” Darma said.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to providing 100,000 houses before the end of President Tinubu’s first tenure, saying relevant government agencies would continue working towards achieving the target.
“The Federal Housing Authority, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and the Ministry will continue to deliver on their mandates towards meeting this target,” he said.
Darma explained that the remaining 122 beneficiaries would receive their keys by December 2026, bringing the total number of housing units allocated to the affected beneficiaries to 251.
He said the beneficiaries were originally allocated houses at the Brains and Hammers Bungalow City, but the estate was subsequently allocated to Nigerian military personnel.
“We are committed to ensuring that all the affected beneficiaries are accommodated. The remaining 122 beneficiaries will receive their keys by December 2026,” he said.
The minister congratulated the beneficiaries and commended them for their patience and endurance throughout the process.
“I congratulate all the beneficiaries. I appreciate your patience and endurance, and I am delighted that today you are finally receiving the keys to your homes,” he said.
Darma said the beneficiaries’ positive response to the project would encourage the government to do more.
“The words of praise and appreciation from the beneficiaries are a motivation for us to continue to deliver,” he said.
Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FMBN, Shehu Usman Osidi, commended Darma for his leadership and efforts towards advancing the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.
“We commend the Honourable Minister for his commitment and leadership in making the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda a reality,” Osidi said.
He also praised Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, for supporting the project and providing land for the Federal Government’s housing programme.
“Nasarawa State has been a pace-setter in the implementation of the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda,” Osidi said.
He noted that Sule was the first governor to allocate land to the Federal Government for the programme and personally travelled to Abuja to present the Certificate of Occupancy for the land to the Ministry.
Osidi said the partnership between the Federal Government, state government and private sector demonstrated the importance of collaboration in addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit.
“This is an example of what can be achieved when the Federal Government, state government and private sector work together towards a common goal,” he said.
Some of the beneficiaries also expressed appreciation to the government for making them homeowners, describing the handover as the fulfilment of a long-awaited dream.
One of the beneficiaries said, “We are grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Housing for making this possible. For many of us, owning a home has been a long-standing dream.”
Another beneficiary said the keys represented more than just a house.
“This is not just a house; it is a new beginning for my family. We sincerely appreciate the government for giving us this opportunity,” the beneficiary said.
The successful delivery of the 129 housing units underscores the Federal Government’s efforts to expand access to affordable housing and increase homeownership among Nigerian families under the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.
The highlight of the ceremony was the symbolic presentation of keys to the beneficiaries by the Minister.