Sokoto Commissioner Advocates for Affordable Mortgages

Barrister Nasiru Danstsoho, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, called for single-digit mortgage interest rates and an extension of repayment periods to 35 years to improve home ownership accessibility for Nigerians. He made this appeal on Monday during the 15th National Council on Land, Housing and Urban Development in Sokoto, themed “Strengthening Mortgage, Land and Institutional Systems for Accelerated and Inclusive Housing Delivery.” Danstsoho expressed concern over Nigeria's housing deficit of over 14.7 million units and the 15.7 million people living in unsafe housing.

He urged the government and financial institutions, including the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, to implement policies that would lower housing loan costs and offer more flexible repayment terms. He emphasized the need for housing policies to include informal sector workers and called for the digitization of land administration systems to enhance transparency and access to land.

The Sokoto State Government has begun issuing digital certificates of occupancy and allocated over 1,696 plots of land for various purposes.