By Jennete Ugo Anya
The Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) has received the Outstanding Public Institution in Mobilising Capital for Housing and Construction Development award at the Abuja Real Estate & Property Awards 2026, drawing attention to its role in financing homeownership through the Ministry of Finance Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF).
The recognition comes as MREIF reports more than N155 billion in mortgage financing disbursed to over 2,235 Nigerians across the country’s six geopolitical zones, reflecting the federal government’s use of structured financing to improve access to residential property.
MREIF is a federal government initiative managed through MOFI, designed to address Nigeria’s housing deficit, estimated at approximately 20 million units, by making mortgage financing more accessible to eligible Nigerians.
The programme’s reported disbursements represent a significant financing intervention in a housing market where access to affordable long-term credit remains a major consideration for prospective homeowners. By directing capital towards mortgage financing, the initiative seeks to bridge part of the gap between housing demand and the financial capacity of households to acquire homes.
Figures published in MREIF’s promotional material also indicate a regional spread covering all six geopolitical zones and 24 states, underscoring the programme’s stated national reach. The material puts the average age of beneficiaries at 42 years and reports 695 or more housing units under off-take guarantee.
The fund is also registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and listed on the Nigerian Exchange, according to the MREIF. It carries an AAA rating from Agusto & Co and an AA rating from GCR, providing additional information about its reported institutional and credit credentials.
These features position MREIF within Nigeria’s broader housing finance landscape, where mobilising investment and developing sustainable mortgage structures are important to improving homeownership access.
However, the programme’s longer-term contribution will depend not only on the volume of financing disbursed but also on affordability, repayment sustainability, the supply of suitable housing and the ability to reach households that remain excluded from formal mortgage markets.
For MOFI, the award provides public recognition of its capital mobilisation efforts. For prospective homeowners, the more consequential measure will be whether the financing translates into accessible, affordable and sustainable homeownership at a scale commensurate with Nigeria’s housing needs.
MREIF invites prospective applicants to obtain further information and apply for mortgages through its official website, mreif.com.ng.
