Critics Slam Tinubu Housing Scheme as Unaffordable for Average Nigerians Amid N90m Claims

By Afolai Olaiya Idowu in business
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Abuja / Abeokuta, August 19, 2026 β€” A civil society watchdog has reignited debate over Nigeria’s housing policy, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of rolling out developments that remain far beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.

In a video released Wednesday, GST Hub declared that β€œTinubu’s housing project is not for the people,” pointing to multi-storey housing complexesβ€”some still incompleteβ€”and claiming that certain units linked to the Renewed Hope programme or related estates cost as much as ₦90 million.

The group framed the situation as another β€œanti-people” policy of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The criticism landed just one day after First Lady Oluremi Tinubu commissioned the 108-unit Muhammadu Buhari Estate in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The project, developed through a public-private partnership, features four-bedroom detached and semi-detached duplexes complete with roads, electricity, water supply, recreational facilities and security.

Ogun State officials presented it as a step toward closing the state’s housing gap.

Official Prices Tell a Different Story for Standard Estates

Federal authorities, however, draw a clear distinction between different categories of projects under the broader Renewed Hope umbrella.

For the budget-funded Renewed Hope Housing Estates, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has set uniform nationwide prices:

- One-bedroom semi-detached bungalow: ₦8.5 million

- Two-bedroom semi-detached bungalow: ₦11.5 million

- Three-bedroom semi-detached bungalow: ₦12.5 million

Priority is given to low- and middle-income earners, civil servants, private-sector workers with verifiable income, and Nigerians in the diaspora.

Buyers can choose outright purchase, mortgage financing (including National Housing Fund loans at preferential rates), rent-to-own schemes or instalment plans.

Larger β€œRenewed Hope Cities” developed through public-private partnerships, as well as some state-level projects, carry higher price tags that reflect land costs, private financing, and enhanced amenities. These can range significantly higher depending on location and specifications.

A Persistent National Challenge

Nigeria continues to face a severe housing deficit estimated in the region of 15 million units. Rapid urbanization, high construction costs and limited access to affordable long-term finance have left millions of families struggling to secure decent shelter.

Successive governments have launched mass housing programmes with mixed results; the current administration’s Renewed Hope initiative aims to deliver tens of thousands of units nationwide through a mix of direct government funding and partnerships with private developers.

GST Hub argues that high-end or incomplete projects do little to ease the burden on low-income households. Government officials counter that the combination of subsidized estates, flexible payment options, and ongoing construction across multiple states demonstrates a genuine push for accessibility.

As the debate unfolds, the real test will be how many ordinary Nigeriansβ€”teachers, civil servants, traders and young professionalsβ€”actually move into completed, affordable homes under the Renewed Hope banner in the months and years ahead.

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