The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, has extended an eight-week grace period to individuals who subscribed to pay outright for houses under the National Housing Programme (NHP) but have not yet completed their payments.
National Housing Programme: Provisional Allocation of First Batch of Houses
The Ministry recently announced the commencement of offers for provisional allocation of the first batch of houses to outright buyers under the housing programme. This marks a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to provide affordable housing to Nigerians.
Official Statement from the Housing Ministry
In a statement issued by Salisu Haiba, Director of Press & Public Relations for the Housing Ministry, Marcus Ogunbiyi, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, elaborated on the development during an address at his office in Abuja. Ogunbiyi explained that the provisional allocation offers, which began in April 2024, followed a comprehensive review of the conditions and procedures for the sale of houses under the NHP. This review was communicated in an official circular dated December 29, 2023.
Subscribers Given 90-Day Payment Window
Ogunbiyi reported that while several subscribers have already completed their payments, others have only made partial deposits. He noted that subscribers included in the first batch of offers have been given a 90-day window to finalize their payments. To further accommodate those who have yet to complete the process, the Ministry has now granted an additional eight-week grace period.
Consequences for Non-Payment
“The Ministry is informing all first batch outright subscribers who have not yet completed their payments for the houses offered to them that they now have an eight-week grace period to finalize all payments,” Ogunbiyi emphasized. He also cautioned that “any subscriber who fails to complete payment within this extended period will have their offer revoked.”
Addressing Nigeria’s Housing Deficit
This initiative is part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to tackle the housing deficit in Nigeria by providing affordable homes to its citizens through the National Housing Programme.
