Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja.
The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in partnership with the Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation have laid a foundation for the construction of civil service housing estate in Dukpa, Gwagwalada, Abuja, FCT, Wednesday, August 19th, 2026. This was contained in a statement signed by Badamasi S. Haiba, Fsca, mnipr, Director, Press and Public Relations.
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack performed the groundbreaking of the estate which comprises 250 two and three bedtoom bungalows.
Housing Minister, Muttaqha Rabe Darma described the project as more than another housing scheme, saying it was designed specifically to provide affordable accommodation for civil servants while recognising their contributions to national development.
” Providing affordable housing to civil servants would not only improve their living conditions but also enhance efficiency and productivity in the public service” he stated
Accordingly, Darma described the project as a special recognition of the contributions of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to the transformation of the Nigerian Civil Service, noting that the estate was not merely another housing project, but a demonstration of government’s appreciation of service, commitment and contribution to national development.
He also mentioned that the groundbreaking was a demonstration of government’s determination to recognise service and contribution, while delivering completed homes that would improve the living conditions and quality of life of Nigerians.
” Provision of affordable and decent accommodation for civil servants, and access to housing was an important component of improving the welfare and efficiency of the workforce” he remarked
The Minister noted that by providing affordable housing for civil servants, the Ministry was contributing to the broader objective of strengthening the civil service and supporting efforts to make it more efficient and corruption-free.
Darma urged the contractors, consultants, supervising teams and other stakeholders involved in the project to ensure that the houses were delivered to high standards, stressing that the quality of the housing units must stand the test of time.
He also reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry to delivering on the housing mandate of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that the government would not only make promises but translate them into completed housing projects and hand over keys to beneficiaries.
“We don’t only make promises; we deliver them. We don’t only say we are providing housing units; we commission housing units and give keys to the people to enter into the houses they own,” he said.
He disclosed that the Ministry has lined up a number of housing projects to deliver to beneficiaries from the end of August to December across Lagos, Abuja and other locations.
He said ” the planned deliveries were part of the Ministry’s determination to move from policy to projects and from promises to tangible results” , assuring Nigerians that the Ministry would continue to work towards fulfilling the housing mandate of the administration.
The Minister further expressed appreciation to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for her commitment and partnership with the Ministry, particularly for her support to the housing agenda and her personal encouragement to him since his appointment as Minister.
He assured that the Ministry would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to deliver quality, affordable and sustainable housing projects in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In her address, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, described the groundbreaking ceremony as a significant milestone and a “dream come true” in the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare and homeownership opportunities of civil servants.
She said the project, being implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Housing Ministry, goes beyond providing shelter, as it offers civil servants security, peace of mind and a lasting reward for their years of dedicated service to the nation.
Mrs. Walson-Jack commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to workers’ welfare, as well as the Minister of Housing and Urban Development for translating the initiative into reality.
She stressed the need for quality construction, affordability, transparency, accessibility and timely completion, while calling on state governors to replicate the programme across the states of the country.
According to her, the 250 housing units will complement the 350 units already provided under the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) Programme, bringing the total number of housing units provided for federal civil servants under the initiatives to 600 units.
In his vote of thanks, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata expressed appreciation to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, other government officials, stakeholders for their support and presence at the groundbreaking ceremony.
He described the project as a practical demonstration of government’s commitment to the welfare of civil servants, noting that the development goes beyond the provision of physical structures to creating secure and dignified homes where families can thrive.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, of the Housing Ministry Dr. Shuaib Belgore, described the groundbreaking as a significant milestone and a targeted intervention to address the housing needs of federal civil servants.
He emphasized that the project demonstrates the Federal Government’s determination to provide decent, affordable and dignified housing for workers who have dedicated their working lives to national service.
The Civil Service Housing Estate initiative further underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening public servants’ welfare while advancing the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the housing sector.
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