Nigerian Government Advocates Mortgage Reforms for Housing

At the 15th meeting of the National Council on Land, Housing and Urban Development (NCLHUD) in Sokoto from October 12 to 16, 2026, the Nigerian government called for mortgage reforms to address housing challenges. Mukhtar Umar, the Ministry’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, emphasized the council's role in developing policies for improved housing delivery.

Barrister Nasiru Aliyu Dantsoho, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey and Country Planning, highlighted a housing deficit of over 14.5 million units and the unsafe living conditions of approximately 50.6 million people. He proposed reducing mortgage interest rates from double digits to single digits and extending repayment periods from 25 to 35 years to facilitate homeownership.

Dantsoho also urged financial institutions, including the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, to provide adequate funding and flexible repayment plans, and called for the digitization of land administration to enhance efficiency and transparency.