The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa, revealed plans for the imminent launch of a Diaspora Mortgage Housing Scheme in the United Kingdom, United States of America, and Canada.
The announcement came during a meeting at his office in Abuja, where he welcomed the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and key Management Staff.
In a statement released by the Protocol Unit of NiDCOM on Wednesday, Arch. Dangiwa outlined the scheme’s objective, stating, “The overall goal is to ensure that as our brothers and sisters sojourn abroad, they also have a decent shelter over here in Nigeria to call their home.”
The Minister emphasized the commitment of the Federal Housing Authority to fulfill their tripartite mandate, including the development of a Diaspora City Project in collaboration with NIDCOM, FHA, and FCT.
“The project is situated at Maitama 2, with over 675 hectares of land,” the statement noted.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa expressed her appreciation for the Minister’s dedication and active involvement in the launch of the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme, particularly highlighted during the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit.
She also noted the enthusiasm among Nigerians in the Diaspora for both the mortgage scheme and the forthcoming Diaspora smart city in Kabusa, Maitama, FCT.
With approximately 20 million Nigerians in the Diaspora remitting an average of over $24 billion annually to boost the Nigerian economy, the impending mortgage scheme marks a significant step towards providing affordable housing solutions for the country’s global citizens.
The scheme is scheduled to be officially launched in February 2024, promising a positive impact on housing accessibility and economic development.