The Federal Government has set a goal to generate over two million jobs across Nigeria through its Renewed Hope Social Housing Programme, aimed at addressing the country’s housing deficit and creating economic opportunities for citizens.

This was revealed by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, during a working session with the House of Representatives Committee on Housing and Habitat at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

Dangiwa explained that the Renewed Hope Social Housing Programme is a flagship initiative designed to provide affordable homes for low-income earners, vulnerable groups, the unemployed, and Internally Displaced Persons. According to him, “100 housing units will be constructed in each of the 774 local government areas across the country.”

He noted that the housing initiative will generate over two million jobs, breaking it down as “25 persons per job, 27 jobs per location, in 77,400 locations.”

Funding for the programme, he said, will come through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund. However, further clarity and full details will be provided to the lawmakers once the National Social Housing Programme documents are approved by President Bola Tinubu.

“After the project take-off, we are going to bring a bill to the National Assembly for the project to be sustainable so that we can have a national social housing fund,” Dangiwa stated.

While briefing the committee on the status of existing projects, the Minister explained that the Ministry had carried forward several housing initiatives from the previous year as well as from the 2022 supplementary budget.

These, he said, have been implemented through the first and second quarters of the year pending final review and release of the 2025 budget by the Budget Office of the Federation.

Dangiwa assured lawmakers that several of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates were at advanced stages of completion. “Once monies are released, the projects will be completed and ready for inauguration within two months,” he said.

He highlighted a recent inspection tour to the Renewed Hope City in Karsana, Abuja, where he was joined by developers and financiers. According to him, the project was nearing completion and originally targeted for inauguration by the end of August.

However, the construction of access roads awarded by the Federal Capital Territory Minister may cause slight delays.

He also cited progress in other Renewed Hope City projects in Kano and Lagos states, both of which, he said, are “gearing up for inauguration soon.”

On the issue of housing subscription and project financing, the Minister disclosed that house subscriptions had commenced across all project sites, with developers already beginning to recover their investments.

Dangiwa further informed the lawmakers that the Ministry had written to the Accountant-General of the Federation to prioritise the housing sector in future disbursement of funds.

“Housing should be considered a priority sector,” Dangiwa emphasised.

In response, Chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Habitat, Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, reiterated the committee’s support and willingness to partner with the Ministry to deliver results.

He said, “The committee’s arms were wide open to the Ministry,” adding that the lawmakers would “work harmoniously to ensure that their efforts are visible and impactful to the country.”

He also assured the Minister of the committee’s commitment to addressing challenges in the sector. “All issues will be attended to,” he said.