Housing deficit: Niger State govt targets 100,000 mass housing units

The Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has announced plans by the state government to embark on the construction of mass housing units to provide adequate accommodation for workers and residents.

Governor Bago made this known while receiving the Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Director of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) at the Niger State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

He highlighted that the state has a 30-year development plan with a strong focus on agriculture and housing. As part of this initiative, new layouts will be created to bridge the housing gap among citizens.

Emphasising the significance of housing in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, the governor stated that his administration is committed to establishing 100 farm estates, which will include the construction of 10,000 housing units.

Furthermore, he revealed that the state government and MOFI are exploring ways to maximise Niger State’s 75 per cent territorial coverage within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In this regard, 64,000 plots of land have been identified for development.

Governor Bago also disclosed that the state government is collaborating with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other partners to create new settlements and close all Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of MOFI, Dr Armstrong Takang, commended Governor Bago for his visionary leadership and commitment to attracting investment to Niger State. He stated that the partnership with MOFI, the federal government’s investment and asset management agency, would yield significant benefits.

Dr Takang further noted that the corporation would explore investment opportunities in the state, particularly in agriculture, by supporting smallholder farmers. Additionally, he emphasised that housing remains a core mandate of MOFI, which aims to provide affordable mortgage plans for Nigerians, with repayment periods of up to 20 years.

The Executive Director of MOFI, Sani Yakubu, added that the renewed vigour of the current administration would facilitate the expansion of housing initiatives. He also highlighted that the MOFI Real Estate Fund is designed to address the challenge of housing affordability.

Chairman of Niger Foods, Sammy Adigun, stated that the collaboration with MOFI aligns with the federal government’s plan to produce two million tonnes of food. He noted that the partnership would be a milestone achievement, positioning Niger State as a key contributor to the nation’s food security.