The Nigerian government has begun construction of 250 homes for federal civil servants in Abuja, as part of efforts to improve access to affordable housing and workers’ welfare.
The Renewed Hope Civil Service Estate comprises 250 two- and three-bedroom bungalows. Officials broke ground for the project in Abuja as part of a partnership between the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
The scheme aims to expand homeownership opportunities for eligible federal civil servants. It forms part of wider government efforts to improve workers’ welfare and address Nigeria’s housing needs.
Housing Minister Muttaqha Rabe Darma said the project held significance beyond the construction of the homes, describing it as recognition of Walson-Jack’s contribution to the civil service.
“The significance of today’s groundbreaking is not just another attempt to embark on a housing project,” Darma said.
He said Walson-Jack had spent her career strengthening and transforming the civil service.
Darma said affordable housing could support a more efficient and productive workforce, describing access to decent shelter as an important aspect of workers’ welfare.
He also directed contractors, consultants and supervising teams to construct the houses according to approved specifications. He stressed the need for quality construction that would stand the test of time.
The minister said his ministry would focus on delivering projects rather than making policy announcements. He disclosed plans to deliver 122 housing units before the end of August, alongside 252 units in Lagos and 300 units in Abuja.
Darma said the ministry remained committed to fulfilling the housing commitments of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, welcomed the project as an important step towards improving civil servants’ welfare.
Ata pledged the ministry’s commitment to completing the estate within the agreed timeframe. He said government housing programmes must result in completed homes that beneficiaries could occupy.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr Shuaib Belgore, also welcomed the initiative, adding that the 250-unit estate demonstrated the government’s commitment to supporting those who serve the country.
He described the project as a targeted response to the housing needs of an important section of Nigeria’s workforce.
He said civil servants provide the institutional framework for developing, implementing and sustaining government policies. Their welfare, he added, remains important to effective governance.
Belgore said decent housing could improve workers’ well-being and support greater productivity. However, he stressed that the groundbreaking must lead to tangible results.
He called for disciplined project administration, effective supervision, adherence to approved standards, quality workmanship and timely completion.
The Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Shehu Usman Odidi, commended the government and OHCSF for the initiative.
Odidi described the 250 bungalows as a significant intervention in providing decent, affordable and standard housing for civil servants.
He also highlighted a N10 billion housing loan facility established through a Memorandum of Agreement between FMBN and the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board.
The facility will provide housing loans to eligible federal civil servants through the board. Odidi said the arrangement demonstrated the government’s commitment to turning workers’ welfare policies into practical support.
He also credited President Bola Tinubu’s administration with prioritising housing under its Renewed Hope Agenda. He commended the Housing Ministry for its efforts to address Nigeria’s housing deficit.
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Odidi described the estate as more than a construction project. He called it a tribute to Walson-Jack and a lasting reflection of her tenure and contributions to the civil service.
Walson-Jack described the groundbreaking as a milestone in the government’s commitment to civil servants’ welfare.
She said housing was fundamentally about people, adding that homeownership could provide security and peace of mind. She also linked housing support to an effective public service.
“Welfare and well-being of civil servants remain central to the Federal Civil Service reform agenda,” she said. A supported workforce, she added, would be better positioned to serve the nation.
Walson-Jack urged state governments to develop similar housing programmes for their civil servants. She said broader partnerships would also help expand access to affordable housing.
She disclosed that the OHCSF currently has 305 housing units provided to civil servants under the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Programme.
More than 40,000 beneficiaries have also accessed housing loans through the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board, she said.
However, Walson-Jack warned that the groundbreaking must quickly produce completed homes. Civil servants, she said, needed “completed houses and keys”, rather than architectural drawings and ceremonies.
She called for quality, affordability, transparency and timely delivery throughout the project.
