The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has said that the ongoing construction of housing across the country by the federal government has created over 250,000 new jobs.

Briefing Newsmen at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Minister who provided an update on the ministry’s progress in tackling Nigeria’s housing deficit and creating jobs, said the ministry has embarked on various initiatives to address the housing deficit in Nigeria which includes increasing the housing supply.

He added that one of the agenda of the Ministry is the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme, which is currently active in 14 construction sites across Nigeria and it is set to deliver over 10,000 housing units across multiple locations, spanning all six geopolitical zones.

Our Correspondent, Raliat Adenekan reports that the Minister who decried the insufficient budgetary allocations to meet the housing needs in Nigeria, also disclosed that while the government-funded one-bedroom apartments under the Renewed Hope Estates Programme cost N8 million to N9 million, but, those developed through Public-Private Partnerships (Renewed Hope Cities) are priced at N22 million, due to differences in funding mechanisms.

The Minister further stated that in addition to providing affordable housing supply to Nigerians, the Ministry is implementing reforms in land administration and working to establish buildings Materials manufacturing hubs to reduce construction costs.