The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, revealed that the government aims to ensure Nigerian workers do not spend more than 40% of their income on rent. Currently, workers spend between 40% to 60% of their income on rent, leaving limited funds for other family obligations, including education and welfare. Darma stated that excessive spending on rent could lead to corruption as workers seek additional sources of income.
According to Darma, the government's objective is to reduce the proportion of workers' income spent on rent and provide more Nigerians with access to affordable and decent housing. The minister emphasized that the ultimate goal is to ensure every unhoused Nigerian has a home. With approximately 110 million Nigerians currently unhoused, an estimated 16 million housing units are required to address the deficit.
Darma commended the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for supporting access to affordable housing for its workers. He disclosed that the ministry has engaged stakeholders in the housing sector and relevant regulators to facilitate the provision of the required housing units within the coming months.
The government is also taking stock of abandoned housing projects across the country as part of its strategy to address the housing deficit. Darma mentioned that these projects date back several years, including housing schemes initiated during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The minister stated that there are close to 250,000 abandoned housing units nationwide.
Darma expressed optimism that if state governments could take over the 250,000 units within the next few months and allocate them to civil servants, it would represent significant progress in addressing the country's housing shortage. He is engaging state governors to take over or buy the abandoned housing projects so that they can be renovated and converted into serviceable homes for civil servants.
The minister reiterated the government's commitment to implementing the strategy to address the housing deficit. Darma emphasized that the government will work to ensure that workers do not spend more than 40% of their income on rent, reducing one dimension that leads to corruption and making sure that every unhoused Nigerian gets housing.
The government's efforts to address the housing deficit are ongoing, with the goal of providing affordable and decent housing for all Nigerians. The initiative to cap rent at 40% of workers' income is part of a broader strategy to reduce the housing deficit and promote economic stability.
Key points
- The Nigerian government aims to cap rent at 40% of workers' income to address the country's housing deficit and reduce corruption.
- Approximately 110 million Nigerians are currently unhoused, requiring an estimated 16 million housing units to address the deficit.
- The government has identified close to 250,000 abandoned housing units nationwide that can be renovated and allocated to civil servants.
