By Musa Ibrahim
As Nigeria grapples with a chronic housing deficit affecting millions, the federal government is doubling down on its commitment to revitalize the sector, promising to breathe new life into long-abandoned projects while rolling out innovative digital safeguards against fraud and mismanagement.
In a series of recent announcements, officials from the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development outlined ambitious plans to complete stalled developments nationwide and empower citizens to report shady dealings in real estate.
The push comes at a critical juncture for Africa’s largest economy, where rapid urbanization has outpaced housing supply, leaving an estimated 28 million-unit shortfall. Against this backdrop, Mr. Oyetunde Ojo, the Managing Director of FHA, delivered a resolute message during the inauguration of newly constructed roads at the Guzape estate in Abuja on August 26, 2025.
“The federal government remains committed to ensuring the completion of abandoned housing projects nationwide,” Mr. Ojo declared, signaling that the authority will soon kick off inaugurations of these forgotten sites across the country. He teased an upcoming milestone: the unveiling of what he described as the nation’s biggest mall, a project poised to boost commercial activity alongside residential growth.
The Guzape event itself showcased tangible progress. The FHA has invested over one billion naira in building three key roads within the estate, enhancing connectivity and accessibility for residents who had endured years of isolation. “For over three years, we couldn’t even access our houses properly,” one local resident recounted, praising the FHA for finally delivering on infrastructure that has transformed daily life.
Oluremi Omowaiye, the Executive Director of FHA for Project Implementation, echoed the sentiment, expressing satisfaction with the roads’ quality and their potential to spur economic activities in the area.
This infrastructure boost is part of a broader strategy under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to deliver affordable housing and curb the proliferation of unfinished estates that have dotted Nigeria’s landscape for decades. Mr. Ojo, who has been at the helm since earlier this year, has already overseen the commissioning of 100 housing units in Ibadan and other sites, vowing to tackle inherited abandoned projects head-on. “We’re transforming FHA into a performing agency,” he has stated in prior updates, emphasizing anti-corruption measures and efficient delivery.
Complementing these completion efforts, the government has introduced cutting-edge digital tools to enhance transparency and accountability.
On August 26, 2025, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa, unveiled the Housing Fraud Detection and Reporting Portal, a user-friendly platform accessible at https://reports.fmhud.gov.ng, where Nigerians can anonymously report estate fraud, upload evidence like documents or photos, and track case progress in real-time.
“For too long, many Nigerians have fallen victim to unscrupulous developers,” Mr. Dangiwa lamented in his launch remarks, warning that, fraudulent activities will no longer be tolerated and promising prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
Developed in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other stakeholders, the portal ensures complaints are swiftly reviewed by professional bodies, law enforcement, the judiciary, and ministry officials. In tandem, the ministry launched the Contract Performance and Compliance Project Monitoring System (CPCPMS), a sophisticated dashboard for real-time oversight of housing projects. This system evaluates contractor performance against key metrics, stores essential documents like payment certificates and Bills of Quantities, and flags deviations to prevent delays or irregularities.
Mr. Dangiwa tied these initiatives to the 2012 National Housing Policy, which mandates a robust legal and regulatory framework to oversee housing delivery and ensure all built-environment professionals are duly registered. “These platforms are designed to improve monitoring and increase transparency in real estate transactions nationwide,” he explained, positioning them as pivotal steps toward a scam-free housing market.
Industry experts applaud the moves, noting that fraud—ranging from fake titles to unfinished developments—has long deterred investment and eroded public trust. By combining project revivals with digital vigilance, the government aims to not only house more Nigerians but also foster a sector ripe for economic growth. As Ojo and Dangiwa’s teams press ahead, residents and stakeholders alike are watching closely, hopeful that these promises translate into roofs over heads and justice for the defrauded.
