The federal government has commenced the construction of a 250-unit Renewed Hope Civil Service Housing Estate in Gwagwalada, Abuja, as part of efforts to improve the welfare of federal civil servants and expand access to affordable homeownership.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Wednesday, brought together the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack; the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Atta; senior government officials, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
The project, comprising 250 two-bedroom bungalows, is being implemented through a partnership between the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
Darma described the project as more than another housing scheme, saying it was designed specifically to provide affordable accommodation for civil servants while recognising their contributions to national development.
According to him, providing affordable housing to civil servants would not only improve their living conditions but also enhance efficiency and productivity in the public service.
The minister said the project was also intended to demonstrate that the government was committed to recognising and rewarding dedicated public service, stressing that housing was one of the most basic needs of every human being.
He charged the contractors, consultants and supervising teams to ensure that the houses were built to high standards and capable of standing the test of time.
Darma said the housing project was part of a broader nationwide intervention, noting that the ministry had housing projects in all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
He further declared that the government would move aggressively from policy announcements to actual delivery of houses before the expiration of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration in May 2027.
The minister disclosed that 122 rent-to-own housing units would be delivered before the end of August, while additional housing projects would be commissioned in September, October and December.
He listed the planned deliveries to include 252 housing units in Lagos, 300 units in Abuja, 2,800 units in Karsana, Abuja, another 2,000 units and 1,500 units at other locations, as well as 2,129 units scheduled for December.
Darma said the series of projects was part of the administration’s determination to fulfil its housing promises to Nigerians, declaring that the period ahead would be characterised by “action, action and action.”
He said the government was determined to move from groundbreaking ceremonies to completed homes and the handing over of keys to beneficiaries.
The minister also linked affordable housing for civil servants to the government’s broader anti-corruption agenda, arguing that improved welfare and secure accommodation could contribute to a more efficient and less vulnerable public service.
He described the Gwagwalada project as a symbol of the government’s determination to move “from policy to project” and “from talk to action.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Walson-Jack described the project as a major milestone in the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of civil servants and a “dream come true.”
She commended Darma, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Shuaib Mohammed Lamido-Belgore, and other officials for bringing the project to fruition within a relatively short period.
The HOCSF said the estate represented “a promise of a better future” for civil servants and their families, stressing that homeownership offered workers security, peace of mind and a lasting reward for years of service to the nation.
She called for the project to be completed on schedule, warning that civil servants needed completed houses and keys rather than architectural drawings and groundbreaking ceremonies.
“We look forward to the commissioning of these homes and to witnessing their allocation to eligible and deserving civil servants,” she said, while urging all those involved to ensure quality, affordability, transparency and timely delivery.
Walson-Jack also disclosed that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation currently had 305 housing units provided to civil servants under the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Programme (FISH), while more than 40,000 civil servants had benefited from housing loans through the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board.
She further reminded federal civil servants of the government’s approved N10 billion annual housing loan scheme provided through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, urging eligible workers to take advantage of the facility to pursue homeownership.
The HOCSF called for similar partnerships to be expanded, saying the office was open to collaborations that could provide housing for the “teeming thousands” of federal civil servants across the country.
She also urged state governments to adopt similar initiatives to improve the welfare of their workers.
Walson-Jack said the project reinforced the Federal Government’s commitment to building a civil service in which hard work was recognised, excellence rewarded and workers’ welfare prioritised.
She expressed optimism that the Gwagwalada estate would eventually become a thriving community and a model for similar housing interventions across the country.
The groundbreaking ceremony thus marked a fresh push by the Federal Government to address housing challenges among public servants while using affordable homeownership as an incentive for improved welfare, productivity and dignity in the civil service.
