President Bola Tinubu’s government has solicited the release of 50 hectares of land by state governments to enable it to actualise its ‘Renewed Cities Agenda’ in providing houses for Nigerians.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, said this when Governor Agbu Kefas paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday in Abuja.

He said Mr Tinubu’s plan to deliver the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ for housing needed states’ support in providing land.

Mr Dangiwa said under the first phase of the project, the government planned to build 34,500 houses nationwide using FMBN, FHA and public-private partnerships to achieve this.

He said decent, quality and affordable housing for all Nigerians was a major priority of the government, adding that the ministry was working with the National Population Commission to establish the actual housing deficit.

“Our findings in house estimates show that to meet the housing needs of Nigerians, we need to build about 550,000 new homes per annum over the next 10 years,” said Mr Dangiwa. “That is the massive size of our housing challenge. At the average cost of N8 million, this will require about N4.4 trillion per annum.”

He added, “Records show that over the past decades, the federal agencies and the ministry of housing combined produce less than 15,000 housing units per year. A key reason for this is, of course, the big elephant in the room: inadequate access to finance.

“While this is true, I also believe that we have not been innovative enough in finding solutions to meet the challenge in a bold and audacious manner.”

However, Mr Dangiwa said the good news was that President Bola Tinubu was a proven game-changer who had demonstrated this in all of his policy announcements.

“So, as we acknowledge the challenge before us, we are not frightened by it. Rather, we see it as a golden opportunity to make a difference in the history of affordable housing in our country,” he explained. 

He added, “Already, we have written letters to be sent to all the state governors seeking about 50 hectares of land for renewed hope cities.”

“I’m sure that your Excellency will be kind and gracious enough to honour our request.”

(NAN)