FG Begins Review of Abandoned Housing Projects Nationwide

The Federal Government has begun a review of abandoned housing projects across Nigeria to determine their condition, level of completion and the measures needed to restore viable developments.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqa Darma, disclosed this on Wednesday during an inspection of an abandoned National Housing Programme estate in the Kubwa-Karsana District of Abuja.

Darma expressed concern over the continued abandonment of housing projects that were initiated with public funds, saying the government needed to protect existing investments and ensure that suitable projects were completed for public use.

He said the government planned to identify housing developments that could still be completed or rehabilitated and take steps to bring them back into use.

According to the minister, projects found to be viable would be upgraded and completed as part of efforts to provide Nigerians with more affordable and decent accommodation.

He said public housing developments should not be left unused for long periods after government resources had already been committed to their construction.

Darma explained that the nationwide assessment would provide information on the condition of the projects and help the government determine the appropriate approach for each development.

Some projects may require additional construction work, while others may need repairs, rehabilitation or improvements to existing infrastructure before they can be occupied.

The minister said the review formed part of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Agenda, which seeks to increase access to decent and affordable housing.

He added that completing abandoned developments would complement the construction of new housing estates under federal housing programmes.

Darma said the government was also working towards increasing housing delivery and reducing the country’s housing deficit before the end of 2026.

He noted that making use of existing housing investments could allow the government to provide accommodation more efficiently while reducing the risk of public funds being lost through prolonged project abandonment.

The minister further said the assessment would guide decisions on the rehabilitation, completion and eventual allocation of the affected housing projects.

He added that once the housing units were completed and ready for occupation, allocation would be carried out transparently to ensure that eligible Nigerians benefit from the developments.

The government’s review is therefore expected to provide a clearer picture of the number and condition of abandoned federal housing projects nationwide and determine which ones can be restored for public use.