The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has received assurances from Ahmed Dangiwa, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, that the Ministry is ready to provide housing units to NAF personnel under the National Housing Program (NHP) at discounted rates.
The Minister made this announcement during a courtesy visit by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, who led a delegation of key NAF officers to the Ministry in Abuja.
Expressing his appreciation for the Nigerian Air Force’s dedication to national security and sovereignty, the Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to providing affordable housing for all Nigerians, including low, middle, and high-income earners.
Dangiwa highlighted that the Ministry, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Housing Agenda, is offering various pathways for Nigerians to become homeowners.
He emphasised that the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates program, launched by President Tinubu in Karsana, Abuja, is a significant opportunity for homeownership.
He noted that the program, which aims to provide 50,000 affordable homes nationwide in its first phase, has already commenced in 13 locations across the country. This includes 3,112 units in Abuja, 500 units in Kano under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, and 1,500 units in Lagos in partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).
He also mentioned that housing construction is currently underway in 12 locations across Nigeria, with projects in two states from each geopolitical zone, where lands have been provided and are at various stages of completion.
The Minister outlined the various purchasing options available to potential buyers, including outright purchase, rent-to-own, instalment plans, and mortgage loans with a single-digit interest rate payable over 30 years.
To facilitate easy access to these housing options, Dangiwa announced the launch of the Renewed Hope Housing Portal.
Dangiwa stated that the houses built under the previous administration’s National Housing Program (NHP) in 30 states have been actively publicized and are in high demand. He also discussed prospective buyers’ ownership options, which included outright purchase, installment payments, mortgage loans, and rent-to-own agreements.
The Minister directed the Permanent Secretary to coordinate with teams from both the Ministry and the Air Force for an assessment tour of the NHP site in Bauchi State.
This tour aims to expedite the acquisition process and ensure that discounts will cover the cost of repairs for any dilapidated houses.
Regarding the request to involve the Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited Housing and Construction Company, the Minister assured that the company would be considered for the next procurement bid, as the Ministry has recently completed its current procurement process.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the Air Force’s focus on post-service housing for its personnel, Dangiwa praised the initiative as a valuable welfare measure that could significantly boost the morale of both current and retiring officers.
Air Marshal Abubakar requested that the NHP Bauchi housing units be either provided to the Nigerian Air Force at no cost or sold to them at a discounted rate with favourable payment terms. He emphasised that acquiring these units would significantly enhance the Air Force’s operational readiness.
Additionally, the Chief of Air Staff sought to collaborate with the Ministry on involving the Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited Housing and Construction Company in the ongoing Renewed Hope Cities and Estates projects. He noted that the company has successfully managed several civil works and housing projects, including those for the Air Force in Asokoro.
