Nigeria's Minister Darma Announces 240 Urban Renewal Projects

The Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully delivered over 240 urban renewal and slum-upgrading projects across the country, with an additional 100 projects at various stages of implementation. Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, made this announcement on Monday in Abuja during the combined commemoration of the 2026 World Habitat Day and World Cities Day.

The government aims to tackle Nigeria's housing crisis and regenerate deteriorating cities through reforms that expand access to affordable housing, improve urban infrastructure, and promote sustainable settlements under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme targets 100,000 housing units across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Darma acknowledged challenges such as high interest rates and low mortgage penetration but emphasized efforts to strengthen housing finance institutions and promote public-private partnerships. He also called for stronger enforcement of building standards and the development of a National Housing Data Bank.