By Queen Kunde
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Dangiwa, has thrown his weight behind the creation of an ‘FCT NUJ Journalists’ Village’ in Abuja,an ambitious housing initiative spearheaded by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council.
Hosting the NUJ FCT leadership led by Chairman Comrade Grace Ike, Dangiwa pledged full federal backing for the project through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), promising long-term, affordable mortgage options for journalists once key planning milestones are met.
“All we ask is for the NUJ to secure a titled piece of land and submit a housing design,” Dangiwa said. “With that, the Federal Mortgage Bank will step in to provide cooperative housing loans repayable over 30 years. Journalists will not be left behind.”
The proposed Journalists’ Village aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme, which aims to address Nigeria’s housing deficit, drive job creation, and elevate living standards nationwide.
The initiative comprises:
- Renewed Hope Cities: 1,000+ housing units in major urban hubs.
- Renewed Hope Estates: 250 homes in every state capital.
- Social Housing Projects: 100 low-cost homes in all 774 LGAs, targeting low-income families, informal workers, and persons with disabilities.
Dangiwa revealed that over 10,000 housing units are already under construction across 14 states and the FCT, with more than 150 slum upgrades completed bringing roads, solar lighting, potable water, and drainage improvements to underserved communities.
An online housing application portal—www.renewedhopehomes.fmhud.gov.ng—has also been launched, simplifying access to housing opportunities.
The Minister added that the programme has so far created over 250,000 jobs, and reforms in land titling could unlock over $300 billion worth of dormant real estate.
Additional partnerships, including a deal with Shelter Afrique Development Bank to finance 5,000 affordable homes, and plans for building material hubs to lower construction costs, were also unveiled.
“Our goal is simple: every Nigerian deserves a dignified, affordable home,” Dangiwa stated.
In response, NUJ FCT Chairman Grace Ike lauded the Minister and the Tinubu administration for prioritizing affordable housing and hailed recent achievements, including the 10,000 housing units delivered and strategic slum upgrades.
She made a strong case for media inclusion in national development plans:
“Housing is not just shelter; it is dignity and the foundation of a thriving democracy. Journalists, who uphold that democracy daily, must not be excluded.”
Ike appealed for:
- Full support for the FCT Journalists’ Village,
- Completion of the NUJ Pentagon building,
- Construction of a modern event hall for over 2,000 media professionals,
- Better access to housing finance and training on mortgage systems, and
- A role for journalists in urban renewal initiatives.
She also commended the efforts of Bar. Festus Adebayo, CEO of the TV Housing Show, for his ongoing advocacy for affordable housing for journalists.
The NUJ, Ike assured, stands ready to collaborate with the ministry not just in reportage, but in advancing shared goals for national progress.
With this endorsement, the long-awaited dream of a Journalists’ Village in the nation’s capital may soon become a reality signaling a new chapter in the welfare and recognition of Nigeria’s media community.