Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Forge Housing Alliance
Atume Terfa
Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have taken a decisive step toward reshaping housing delivery and real estate investment, agreeing to deepen cooperation in construction, housing finance, and modern building technologies. The renewed partnership emerged from high-level talks held on the sidelines of the 2026 Real Estate Future Forum (RFF) in Riyadh, a global gathering of policymakers, investors, and industry leaders.
The Nigerian delegation was led by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, who met with Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, alongside other senior Saudi officials. Their discussions centred on building practical, investment-ready linkages capable of delivering large-scale housing projects and long-term value for both countries.
Nigeria’s presentation at the forum was anchored on the Renewed Hope Housing Programme, the Federal Government’s flagship initiative aimed at expanding access to affordable and middle-income housing nationwide. Dangiwa outlined the programme’s public–private partnership framework, describing it as commercially viable and structured to attract credible international investors. He also spotlighted Nigeria’s Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs, a strategy designed to localise the production of key construction inputs, reduce building costs, and stimulate job creation.
According to the minister, Nigeria views housing as more than a social obligation. “We see it as a powerful engine for economic growth, industrial expansion, and investment,” he said, calling on Saudi developers, financiers, and technology firms to tap into what he described as one of Africa’s fastest-growing housing markets.
In response, Minister Al-Hogail welcomed Nigeria’s reform-driven housing agenda and expressed Saudi Arabia’s readiness to strengthen institutional collaboration. He identified areas of mutual interest including mass housing delivery, innovative construction methods, and the development of local building materials value chains. Al-Hogail also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s willingness to facilitate connections between Nigerian institutions and experienced Saudi developers and investors seeking new markets.
Analysts say the engagement reflects broader efforts by both nations to deepen foreign investment ties and exchange expertise in infrastructure and real estate development. Saudi Arabia’s own housing sector has expanded rapidly under its Vision 2030 programme, with strong private sector participation and the adoption of modern construction technologies — lessons Nigeria is keen to adapt.
The Riyadh talks underscore Nigeria’s strategy of leveraging international platforms to mobilise capital, share best practices, and convert diplomatic engagement into tangible development outcomes. Officials from both sides indicated that the next phase would focus on turning discussions into project pipelines, investment commitments, and technical partnerships.
With Nigeria facing a significant housing deficit, collaborations of this scale are increasingly viewed as critical to accelerating housing supply, introducing cost-efficient technologies, and unlocking foreign direct investment in one of the country’s most vital social infrastructure sectors.
