Nigeria seeks Qatar's support to close 15 million housing deficit
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The Federal Government has asked Qatar Charity and the Qatar Fund for Development to partner with Nigeria on affordable housing and urban renewal, as the country seeks to close an estimated 15 million housing deficit.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has sought the partnership of Qatar to address the country's estimated 15 million housing deficit and accelerate urban renewal. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqa Darma, made the call when the Ambassador of Qatar to Nigeria, Yusuf Al-Hail, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
A statement issued by the ministry's Director of Press and Public Relations, Badamasi Haiba, on Friday, September 18, 2026, said the proposed partnership would support the provision of social housing across the country's 774 local government areas, and would help accelerate urban renewal and improve living conditions, particularly for vulnerable citizens.
Darma said the mandate of the ministry goes beyond the construction of houses to include urban upgrades and the renewal of slums, adding that the government was committed to creating better and more habitable communities through integrated housing and urban development initiatives.
"We do not only develop houses, we also do urban upgrade to improve the living conditions of the people," Darma said. He noted that Nigeria requires about 15 million houses to adequately address the needs of vulnerable Nigerians, and invited the Government of Qatar, Qatar Charity and the Qatar Fund for Development to help close the gap.
Al-Hail reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Nigeria in housing and urban development. He said Qatar had maintained an embassy in Nigeria since 2004, and that Qatari charity organisations and foundations had been active in the country for more than 15 years, including three recent projects in Abuja.
The ambassador also highlighted Qatari interventions in education, including a recent project supporting more than 3,000 girls across different states, implemented with local partners and the United Nations. Both parties agreed to explore a framework for technical collaboration and investment in affordable housing and urban renewal projects.