Muttaqha Rabe Darma says military personnel will be included in Federal Government housing programmes as part of efforts to provide affordable homes for serving and retired personnel.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, has pledged the Federal Government’s support for the Nigerian Army Post Service Housing Development programme.
The Minister made the commitment when he received the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Army Post Service Housing Development Limited (PHDL), Major General K.O. Ukandu, during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry on September 19, 2026, Darma reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to providing affordable and decent housing for security personnel, including members of the Armed Forces, Police and other service units.
He said government housing programmes would take into account the needs of people who serve the country and may require accommodation during and after their service.
FG Plans 774,000 Housing Units
Darma disclosed that the Federal Government plans to construct 774,000 housing units across Nigeria under the National Social Housing Programme.
He said the programme is designed to make home ownership more accessible to low- and medium-income earners.
The Minister said serving and retired military personnel who do not own personal accommodation could benefit from the programme, particularly those who intend to return to their communities after completing their service.
“Our plan is to build over 770,000 houses all over Nigeria under what we call the Social Housing Programme. Members of the military, both serving and retired, can favourably benefit from this scheme,” the Minister said.
He explained that the housing initiative was intended to reach people who serve the country but may not have personal accommodation.
Darma also highlighted the importance of providing housing options for personnel who may wish to return to their home communities after retirement.
The Minister said the approach reflects the family-oriented nature of Nigerian society, where many people seek to return to their communities after completing their careers.
1,550 Military Housing Units Targeted
The Minister also disclosed that the Federal Government is set to deliver 1,550 units under the Renewed Hope Military Housing Project at Brains and Hammers before the end of 2026.
He said the housing policies and projects being implemented by the Ministry recognise the sacrifices made by people serving the country.
According to Darma, the Ministry’s housing interventions would cover personnel across the military, police and other service units, alongside civil servants and other Nigerians within the target groups for government housing programmes.
“Everything we are doing in this Ministry will also consider people who serve this country, both in the military, in the police force, and other service units, including civil servants,” he said.
The Minister’s comments place military housing within the wider framework of the Federal Government’s housing interventions rather than treating it as a programme exclusively for the Nigerian Army.
Army Highlights ‘Soldier First’ Concept
Earlier, Major General K.O. Ukandu thanked the Ministry for its support for the Armed Forces and conveyed the greetings of the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Waidi Shaibu.
Ukandu said the visit was consistent with the Nigerian Army’s “Soldier First” concept, which places the welfare of troops at the centre of military administration.
He specifically highlighted the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS), a housing arrangement under which soldiers contribute 10 per cent of the housing cost while the Army pays the balance, according to the Ministry’s statement.
The programme is designed to support personnel seeking affordable home ownership.
Ukandu said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to improve the welfare of officers and soldiers, including support for their housing needs during service and after retirement.
PHDL Seeks Affordable Land And Mortgages
The Managing Director of PHDL explained that the company’s responsibility includes acquiring land from state governments and other sources at affordable rates.
The land is then intended to be made available to officers and soldiers seeking to build retirement homes.
Ukandu said the process is supported by long-term mortgage arrangements designed to make home ownership more achievable for military personnel.
“Our job is to acquire land from State Governments and other sources at affordable rates, and make it available to officers and soldiers to build their retirement homes, supported by long-term mortgage arrangements,” he said.
He added that PHDL’s mandate is to provide affordable housing and retirement homes for military personnel.
The company subsequently requested the Ministry’s support for the Renewed Hope Military Housing Project as part of efforts to expand housing opportunities for Nigerian Army personnel.
Housing Linked To Personnel Welfare
Ukandu also explained the relationship between housing and the Army’s broader welfare strategy.
He said the “Soldier First” concept is based on the principle that soldiers who receive adequate welfare and training will be better positioned to perform their duties.
“Everything revolves around the soldier. If they are well trained and their welfare is taken care of, we will succeed,” he said.
According to him, the concept seeks to ensure that soldiers have access to the facilities and support required for effective service.
Housing is therefore being treated as one component of the welfare framework for military personnel.
Ministry Reaffirms Military Collaboration
The Director of the Department of Public Building and Housing Development in the Ministry, QS Pemi Temitope, also acknowledged the longstanding collaboration between the Housing Ministry and the military.
He said the partnership was aimed at supporting the welfare of officers and improving conditions that would enable effective service delivery.
Temitope reaffirmed that the Ministry would continue to collaborate with the military within its statutory mandate.
That mandate includes the provision of quality, safe and affordable housing for Nigerians.
The Ministry’s position, as outlined in the statement, is that military personnel should remain part of national housing interventions, particularly programmes targeting affordable accommodation and home ownership.
Post-Service Housing Remains A Priority
The discussions between the Ministry and PHDL also placed emphasis on the housing needs of personnel after active service.
For the Army, the availability of affordable retirement homes can provide personnel with an option to return to their communities after completing their careers.
The PHDL model described by Ukandu involves affordable land acquisition, contributions from personnel and long-term mortgage arrangements.
The Federal Government’s proposed Social Housing Programme could provide another channel through which serving and retired personnel may access housing, subject to the programme’s eligibility requirements and implementation arrangements.
The Ministry did not provide further details in the statement on the locations, allocation process or eligibility criteria for military personnel under the proposed 774,000-unit programme.
It also did not provide a detailed completion schedule for the full national housing target.
The 1,550-unit Renewed Hope Military Housing Project at Brains and Hammers, however, was identified by the Minister as a project targeted for delivery before the end of 2026.
Government Signals Broader Housing Approach
The Minister’s engagement with PHDL reflects a broader approach to housing provision that includes specific categories of public servants and security personnel.
The Ministry said its policies would consider members of the military, police and other service units, as well as civil servants.
For the Nigerian Army, the partnership with the Housing Ministry provides an avenue to pursue its post-service accommodation objectives alongside existing welfare initiatives.
The government’s proposed 774,000-unit Social Housing Programme also provides a broader national framework through which low- and medium-income Nigerians are expected to access affordable homes.
The Ministry said the programme would be inclusive, with military personnel among the groups that could benefit.
For now, the Ministry has reaffirmed its support for PHDL and the Army’s housing objectives, while the Army has called for continued collaboration on the Renewed Hope Military Housing Project.
The next stage will depend on implementation, funding, land acquisition, mortgage arrangements and the delivery of the housing units outlined by the Ministry.
