The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is in high-level talks with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) to explore potential areas of collaboration, with a strong focus on infrastructure development, affordable housing, and sustainable urban development across Nigeria.
The move comes as part of the Ministry’s broader agenda to deliver on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope vision for accessible housing and improved urban living standards.
Speaking during a strategic meeting held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to partner with international development agencies like KFAED.
> “Our partnership focus is affordable housing and the promotion of sustainable urban development. We are keen to attract interventions that can transform Nigeria’s housing and urban landscape,” Dangiwa stated.
Key Areas of Partnership Identified
The Minister outlined several key programs that the Ministry is prioritizing for international support, including:
Establishment of Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones — aimed at reducing building material costs and creating jobs. Each hub is to be built on 200 to 300 hectares of fully serviced land.
Development of the Centenary City Project in Abuja — a 1,200-hectare urban district designed for residential, commercial, tourism, and industrial use, requiring critical infrastructure investment.
Urban and Slum Upgrade Initiatives — focused on providing essential infrastructure such as roads, drainage, electricity, schools, and healthcare in underserved areas. The Minister noted that over 120 slums have already been upgraded, out of 150 funded in the previous year’s budget.
Renewed Hope Social Housing Program — which targets building 100 housing units in each of Nigeria’s 774 LGAs, with a structure that supports low-income earners and vulnerable populations through government subsidies.
While presenting these programs, Dangiwa emphasized the Ministry’s need for technical assistance, particularly in conducting feasibility studies for large-scale projects like the Centenary City and the social housing initiative.
Kuwait Fund Expresses Readiness to Support Infrastructure-Linked Projects
On his part, Director-General of KFAED, Dr. Wahad Al-Bahar, expressed appreciation for the Ministry’s clear vision and strategic initiatives.
> “Our visit is to explore potential areas of collaboration and support,” Dr. Al-Bahar said, adding that KFAED is particularly interested in infrastructure and social development initiatives.
Dr. Al-Bahar made it clear that while the Fund does not directly finance housing projects, it is ready to support all enabling infrastructure — including transportation, water, education, agriculture, and urban services that make housing viable.
He emphasized the importance of updated feasibility studies, saying:
> “We need to understand the cost implications, and your studies must be current. If you require assistance with developing proper studies, we are willing to help.”
Dr. Al-Bahar also highlighted KFAED’s commitment to Nigeria, noting that the Fund recently signed its first partnership agreement with the Kaduna State Government under the “Reaching Out-of-School Children Program.”
The Kuwait Fund offers soft loans with a 20–25-year maturity period and low interest rates, tailored for developing nations like Nigeria.
Looking Ahead
The meeting closed with mutual optimism, as both parties expressed willingness to pursue further technical discussions and align on priority projects for implementation. The collaboration marks a potential milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward inclusive, affordable housing and robust urban development.
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