The Federal Government has unveiled subscribers of the Rent-to-Own housing scheme, saying that it is committed to delivering affordable housing for Nigerians by expanding and sustaining similar housing programmes across the nation.

One of the housing initiatives under the Renewed Hope Housing Programme, being implemented through a Public-Private Partnership arrangement, the Rent-to-Own scheme is aimed at providing sustainable and affordable housing for Nigerians.

In another development, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has announced plans to pursue its mandate of not only facilitating access to decent housing and bridging Nigeria’s housing deficit but also revitalising itself as a viable and performing government organisation.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, said when performing the symbolic handover of keys to beneficiaries at the Bungalow City along the Dei-Dei–Zuba Expressway in Abuja that the project targets increasing access to housing across the country, noting that affordable homeownership remains central to the President Bola Tinubu administration.

Darma disclosed that the houses were built by Brains & Hammers Limited, with funding by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

According to him, the burden of high rents in cities such as Abuja and Lagos leaves many civil servants with limited income to meet other basic needs. However, he stated that the ministry was not only focused on making houses more affordable but also improving the well-being of Nigerians by enhancing their capacity to afford decent accommodation.

“We are determined to meet the expectations of Nigerians in providing shelter for them. All beneficiaries of this Rent-to-Own scheme will receive the keys to their homes before the end of the year, and a substantial number of beneficiaries will collect their keys at the event,” Darma declared.

On his part, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FMBN, Shehu Osidi, said the delivery of the Bungalow City units was not without challenges, with the allocation of part of the estate to security agencies initially disrupting the assignment of homes to approved subscribers under the scheme.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Sanusi Dantsoho expressed profound gratitude to the government for the opportunity to become homeowners. He commended the government’s efforts to expand access to affordable housing and ensure that deserving Nigerians benefit from such interventions.

Meanwhile, the FHA Managing Director, Oyetunde Ojo, said the agency is determined to pursue this objective through strategic partnerships with credible private sector developers such as Greenpasture Homes Limited.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of 213 housing units, which the agency is constructing in collaboration with City Estate in Apo, he stressed that the project is designed to meet contemporary housing needs while ensuring comfort, functionality, security and environmental sustainability.

According to him, the project comprises 80 units of two-bedroom flats, 56 units of 3-bedroom flats, 35 units of 3-bedroom terrace duplexes, and 45 units of four-bedroom terrace duplexes.

“Upon completion, the estate will stand as a model residential community,” he said. “Beyond providing homes, this project has ripples of value chain effects. It will create employment opportunities for artisans, engineers, architects, surveyors, suppliers, and numerous other professionals throughout the construction period.

“It will stimulate economic activities within Wasa and its environs while contributing significantly to the development of the Federal Capital Territory.”

Also speaking at the event, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, said the current administration is determined to bridge the housing deficit in the country, adding that long years of negligence were responsible for the widening gap.