Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Nigeria’s premier housing agency, celebrated its 50th anniversary

Yesterday, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Nigeria’s premier housing agency, celebrated its 50th anniversary at the International Conference Center in Abuja. The event was graced by the presence of General Yakubu Gowon, our former Head of State, who was instrumental in the establishment of FHA in 1973 through a decree. During my address, I highlighted a critical issue: FHA’s achievement of constructing just over 50,000 housing units in five decades is far from satisfactory. This performance is especially concerning given FHA’s numerous institutional benefits, such as unrestricted access to federal government land in all layouts and new districts, collaborations with entities like the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), and its unique position for Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) with esteemed developers, thanks to its government agency status.

We are facing a significant housing shortage, and the current pace and strategies of housing delivery need to be intensified to address this crisis effectively. The 50th anniversary of FHA should serve as a period for introspection and a commitment to ensure that the coming 50 years will unfold a different narrative. We understand that while we cannot alter the past, we can certainly shape the future by adopting new approaches.

Under the Renewed Hope Vision of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, our goal is to see an overhauled FHA that is more efficient, effective, and financially robust, thereby enhancing its capacity to fulfill its mandate more effectively. As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I am committed to providing the leadership necessary to propel FHA forward. This commitment includes facilitating FHA’s access to funding from international development finance institutions like Shelter Afrique, leveraging the support of a President who is determined to remove systemic obstacles that have historically hindered government agencies like FHA from achieving their objectives and contributing significantly to Nigeria’s progress.