Federal Housing Estates in Nasarawa Decay Four Years After Inauguration

Four years after their inauguration, two federal government housing estates in Lafia, Nasarawa State, are falling into disrepair. The estates, located in Ungwar Rere and Kwandere, were constructed under the National Housing Programme (NHP) in partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association.

The NHP, launched during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, aimed to provide affordable housing to low-income Nigerians through a ₦500 billion Social Housing Project. The programme planned to deliver 1,400 housing units in six geopolitical zones, with Nasarawa selected as one of two states in the North-Central region to benefit. Contracts for the nationwide housing projects, including 76 units at Ungwar Rere and 100 units at Kwandere, were awarded in 2016. The Kwandere units were inaugurated in 2021, while the Ungwar Rere estate was unveiled in 2022.

Despite these inaugurations, a recent visit to the estates shows a starkly different reality. Many of the houses remain unoccupied, while others are incomplete or abandoned mid-construction. Some completed units have suffered roof damage, vandalism, and encroachment by weeds. Contractors reportedly left the projects due to nonpayment, leaving partially built houses and stolen infrastructure behind.

Residents and community leaders have expressed concern over the dilapidation. The village head of Ungwar Rere, Mallam Shugaba Sale, called for urgent action to utilize the housing facilities. At Kwandere, locals have repurposed the estate roads for drying cassava, highlighting the lack of functional housing in the area.

Efforts to revive public housing continue. Last year, the federal government commenced construction of 250 new units in Azuba community, part of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Housing Estate” initiative. Work on the estate, which includes one-, two-, and three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, is reported to be at an advanced stage.

Officials acknowledge challenges in completing and allocating previous estates. Garba Bashir, controller of housing and urban development in Nasarawa, said the ministry is working to finish and allocate existing units, although those at Kwandere remain under FMBN oversight. FMBN’s Lafia branch manager, Hilda Odiachi, cited affordability as a key issue, noting that most applicants earn below the required threshold for repayment. She confirmed that pricing has been reviewed and allocation plans are being finalized.