The federal government, in collaboration with state governments, has initiated modalities to ease and strengthen mortgage and land systems for accelerated and inclusive housing delivery in Nigeria.

Nasiru Dantsoho, the Sokoto State commissioner for lands, housing, survey and town planning, stated this at the opening of the 15th National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development meeting on Monday in Sokoto.

The commissioner advocated for single-digit interest rates on mortgage loans, down from the current double-digit rates, and an extension of mortgage tenor from 25 to 35 years to make repayment more affordable.

Mr Dantsoho also called for the expansion of mortgage access beyond the formal public and private sectors to include Nigerians in the informal sector, including traders and farmers, who make up the majority but are often excluded from housing finance policies.

The commissioner stressed the need for states to digitise land administration to improve efficiency and transparency.

He lamented that Nigeria faces a housing deficit of over 14.5 million units, with about 50.6 million people living in unsafe houses, describing the situation as worrisome.

He urged financial institutions, including the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), to provide adequate funds and flexible repayment plans tailored to seasonal earners, such as farmers who could repay after harvest.

In his speech, Mukhtar Umar, the director of planning, research and statistics at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, said this year’s meeting provides a critical platform to examine challenges affecting the housing sector and develop practical solutions to improve housing delivery across the country.

Mr Umar explained that the meeting was structured in stages that involved directors and technical officers examining memoranda through various thematic working groups to review issues, identify challenges, assess proposed interventions, and develop clear, practical, and actionable recommendations.

According to him, permanent secretaries from the states, the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal Ministry will consider the outcomes of the technical deliberations to further examine, refine and harmonise the recommendations to ensure that issues requiring policy direction are adequately captured.

Mr Umar said the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, the Minister of State and commissioners from the states and the FCT would consider the reports and recommendations, deliberate on memoranda and provide necessary policy directions.

He added that the final council session would also review the status of implementation of decisions reached at the 14th meeting held in Ilorin, Kwara, to assess progress, identify outstanding issues and strengthen accountability.

On his part, the permanent secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Lands, Housing, Survey and Town Planning, Moyi Tambuwal, said land remained not merely a physical resource but the basis of livelihood, economic activity, social development and intergenerational heritage.

Mr Tambuwal said that, in recognition of its importance, the Sokoto State government continued to pursue reforms, including ongoing digitisation of land records, efforts to reduce processing time for certificates of occupancy, and the provision of land for mass housing development under the federal government’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme.

According to him, these interventions reflect the state’s determination to build a land administration system that is more efficient, transparent and responsive.

He, however, acknowledged that the scale of the housing challenge required sustained reform, stronger institutional collaboration and innovative approaches to housing finance.

The permanent secretary said, “Delivery of adequate and affordable housing requires more than physical construction but an efficient land administration framework, accessible housing finance, effective institutions, appropriate policies and strong coordination among federal and state governments and the private sector.

“Access to affordable mortgage finance remains critical to expanding home ownership for civil servants, traders, farmers, young professionals and the growing youth population.”

He added that the council provided an opportunity to move beyond identifying challenges to developing workable solutions, share experiences, harmonise policies and strengthen collaboration with institutions such as the FMBN, Family Homes Funds and other stakeholders.

Mr Tambuwal further noted that the council’s success should be measured by the extent to which its resolutions ease access to land, expand housing finance, and accelerate the provision of decent and affordable housing for Nigerians.

(NAN)