The Federal government and Sinoma New Materials Nigeria Company Limited is exploring partnership opportunities in innovative technologies towards seeking increasing delivery of affordable housing in Nigeria.

The partnership will focus on the promotion of innovation, sustainable construction, and  local manufacturing of building materials.

In addition, Sinoma New Materials Nigeria Company Ltd is the world largest manufacturer of building materials, specialising in eco- friendly, fire and water resistant building materials with termite protection.

Speaking during a meeting with the firm in Abuja, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa said they give priority  to ensure that low- and middle-income Nigerians can achieve home ownership within their working lifetime.

Dangiwa emphasised,“ We want a situation where the average Nigerian worker can achieve home ownership with his salary within the period of his service. That is why we are particularly interested in innovation and technology that can make housing more affordable.”

He noted , the conventional construction methods have inadequate in delivering houses at an affordability scale required by the target population, particularly workers in the middle cadre, and remained open to new construction technologies, building materials,  such as innovations to be properly demonstrated and proven to work effectively at a viable scale.

 “We can only fully agree with you if you have demonstrated this somewhere and delivered it at scale. People must be able to see and touch what has been built and understand its durability over time,” Dangiwa added.

The Minister stressed the importance of construction speed in addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit. “If you are given land to deliver one hundred houses, how many days will it take you to complete them? These are important questions because speed in  construction is critical in addressing the housing deficit in Nigeria.”

He also highlighted the Government’s plan to promote building materials manufacturing hubs across the country to support housing delivery, saying that, such hubs will serve as centres for the local production of innovative construction materials required to accelerate housing development and reduce construction costs.

“If you are able to deliver these products effectively, your factory could become part of the materials manufacturing hubs we are promoting to support mass housing construction in the country,” he said.

Dangiwa further explained that the government is encouraging partnerships with the private sector through Public–Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements, where government may provide land while developers bring technology, machinery and financing for construction.

” Under such arrangements, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) can purchase completed houses on behalf of beneficiaries and pay developers upfront while recovering the costs gradually through mortgage schemes” he stated

The minister directed relevant directors in the housing ministry to continue the engagement with the company to further refine their proposal and ensure alignment with the government’s housing priorities.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Sinoma New Materials Nigeria Company Ltd, Mr Eric commended the commitment of the Federal Government to tackling Nigeria’s housing deficit through initiatives such as the Renewed Hope Housing Programme.

He said the company aligns fully with the government’s housing priorities, particularly in delivering affordable housing at scale, promoting industrialization of construction materials, and encouraging innovation and sustainability in the built environment.