Ahmed Dangiwa housing vision spotlights South-West as a model region, with new projects and 50,000 jobs under the Renewed Hope programme

Ahmed Dangiwa housing initiatives have placed the South-West region at the forefront of Nigeria’s ongoing transformation in the housing sector, with the Minister of Housing and Urban Development describing it as a trailblazer under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme.

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Speaking in Abeokuta at the 2025 South-West Housing and Construction Exhibition and Trade Fair themed “Renewed Hope Housing: Driving Regional Growth,” Arc Dangiwa announced that the Federal Government plans to cut housing costs through the establishment of Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs in each of the six geopolitical zones.

He revealed that the South-West hub, to be located within the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos State, will create more than 50,000 jobs and transform the region into a centre for affordable building materials production.

“The hub will host factories producing cement, steel, tiles, sanitary ware, paints, and doors within one ecosystem,” Dangiwa said. “It will reduce import dependence, strengthen the Naira, and position Lagos as a regional export centre.”

The Minister disclosed that the government is already constructing over 10,000 housing units in 17 states and the FCT, creating about 250,000 direct and indirect jobs and attracting more than ₦70 billion in private investment through public-private partnerships.

He noted that the South-West region stands out in implementing the Renewed Hope agenda, citing visible projects such as the 2,000-unit Renewed Hope City in Ibeju-Lekki, the 250-unit estate in Osogbo, and the Ajoda housing development in Ibadan.

“These are not promises; they are projects that can be seen and touched,” he stressed.

Dangiwa further highlighted the government’s commitment to reforming land administration by digitising and harmonising systems across the country to unlock over $300 billion in dead capital. This, he said, would make land a true economic asset and not a bottleneck to development.

He reaffirmed President Tinubu’s determination to reduce the national housing deficit, urging state governments and private investors to collaborate with the Federal Government to deliver affordable homes for Nigerians.

In his remarks, Dr Olayemi Rotimi-Shodimu, convener of the exhibition, unveiled plans to train one million artisans by 2035 through the establishment of an Artisan Training School and Construction Artisan Marketplace.

He explained that the initiative aims to boost employability, enhance construction quality, and close the artisan skills gap in the industry.

The President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Builder Daniel Kolade, commended the Federal Government’s proactive steps but stressed that the success of the Renewed Hope Housing Initiative depends on strong collaboration among government, professionals, and investors.

Nigeria’s housing deficit, estimated between 17 million and 28 million units, would require around ₦21 trillion to bridge.

Dangiwa had earlier noted that to close the gap, Nigeria must produce 550,000 housing units annually for a decade, requiring an investment of ₦5.5 trillion per year.

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Despite these daunting figures, Dangiwa’s bold drive to revitalise the housing sector through local production, innovation, and partnership has injected a renewed sense of optimism into the nation’s housing landscape a true embodiment of the government’s Renewed Hope vision.