Innovative PPPs key to bridging Nigeria’s housing gap – Shettima

innovative PPPs key to bridging Vice President Kashim Shettima says innovative Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) are critical to bridging Nigeria’s housing gap and expanding access to affordable homes.

Shettima, represented by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, made this known in Abuja on Tuesday, at the Renewed Hope Housing PPP Summit 2.0,

The vice president reaffirmed the commitment of President Tinubu’s administration to addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit through large-scale public-private partnerships (PPPs).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit themed, “From Policy to Projects Financing and Delivering Housing at Scale through PPP” was organised by Shelter Advisory Services Limited.

Shettima deacribed shelter as a fundamental right of every Nigerian,

He explained that Nigeria had moved beyond the era when government attempted to act as the sole financier, contractor, and manager of housing projects.

He noted that such an approach had proven unsustainable and incapable of delivering housing at the scale required.

“History has shown us that such an approach is neither sustainable nor scalable .

“The theme of this summit represents our mission to bridge the housing gap not through sporadic interventions but through a systemic market-driven revolution.

“To achieve scale, we must marry the regulatory authority of the state with the agility and capital of the private sector.

“If anyone doubts the efficacy of PPP arrangements, they only need to look at the renewed hope housing scheme unfolding across the length and breadth of our city,” he said.

Highlighting the administration’s Renewed Hope Housing Scheme, Shettima described the initiative as evidence that PPP arrangements can deliver tangible results across the country.

“From the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory to the heart of the Southwest and the plains of the North, we are seeing a miracle of collaboration,” he stated.

According to him, the federal government has unlocked billions of naira in private investments by providing land, streamlining title processes, and offering off-take guarantees to developers.

“These estates are not just clusters of buildings, they are evidence that when government provides a credible framework, the private sector delivers with speed and precision,” he added.

However, the vice president challenged stakeholders at the summit to move beyond conventional financing models and embrace innovation in housing development and mortgage accessibility.

He called for innovative credit enhancement structures; greater participation of pension funds and insurance pools in housing finance

Shettima also listed the adoption of alternative construction materials to reduce building costs and scalable microfinance systems to help informal sector workers access mortgage facilities.

On urban development, Shettima expressed concerns over the spread of informal settlements and shanty communities around major cities, describing them as “crises of human dignity.”

He said PPPs could help transform such areas into organised and dignified living spaces through proper planning, sanitation, and infrastructure development.

“We must replace the shack with the home, ensuring that our urban expansion is guided by planning, sanitation, and safety,” he said.

The Vice President also called for comprehensive strategies that include rural redesign and affordable housing prototypes targeted at low-income earners across Nigeria.

“Nigeria is a vast open canvas, waiting for you all to paint the masterpiece for the future,” he told participants.

Reaffirming the administration’s vision, Shettima said President Tinubu believed that food security and shelter are the birthright of every Nigerian.

“He understands that a man with a home is a man with a stake in the peace of his community.

“He understands that a family with a roof over their heads is a family that can dream of a better future,” the vice president said.

Shettima urged participants at the technical workshop to approach discussions with empathy and urgency, emphasising the need to move “from the what, to the how” in solving Nigeria’s housing challenges.

The summit convener, Dr Olayemi Rotimi-Shodimu, said Nigeria’s housing sector had entered a “decisive phase”.

He noted that recent reforms by the government were aimed at unlocking private capital and improving the environment for large-scale housing delivery.

According to him, the summit is designed to move conversations beyond policy discussions to practical implementation through PPPs.

“This is not another talk shop.

“We are here to translate policy clarity into investable projects, and those projects into measurable impact for Nigerian cities and communities,” he said

Our correspondent a1@£££reports that the event witnessed the launch of the Renewed Hope Magazine, focused on housing sector reforms and development initiatives in Nigeria.