Ministry of Finance and the Niger State Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a Mass Housing and Agricultural Settlement Project spanning 100,000 hectares of land in the state.

The agreement was announced at a signing ceremony held on Friday at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja, according to Nairametrics.

The project will be jointly implemented by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated and the Niger State Government, and is aimed at combining housing development with agricultural production under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, described the agreement as a strong demonstration of cooperative federalism and strategic alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

She explained that housing is a vital pillar of development that also directly intersects with agriculture, food security, rural stability, and overall economic productivity—especially in agrarian states such as Niger.

According to her, the initiative is designed not just as a housing scheme but as an integrated agricultural settlement framework aimed at strengthening value chains and improving farmers’ livelihoods across the state.

Uzoka-Anite noted that despite Niger State’s vast agricultural potential, it still grapples with challenges such as insecure settlements, rural–urban migration, and inadequate infrastructure.

She added that the project seeks to bridge these gaps by developing secure, well-planned housing communities strategically situated close to farms, storage facilities, processing centres, and markets.

“This MoU sends a clear signal to the investment community that Niger State, working in alignment with the Federal Ministry of Finance and MOFI, is open for credible, well-structured, and impact-driven investment.”

“This initiative represents our belief that development works best when housing, agriculture, finance, and governance move together. Through this partnership, we are not just building houses we are creating stable farming communities, strengthening food security, and laying the foundation for sustained prosperity in Niger State,” she said.

She added that MOFI will contribute expertise in asset optimisation, project structuring, and private capital mobilisation, with an innovative financing model that blends public assets and private investment to promote transparency, sustainability, and risk sharing.

Beyond agriculture, the minister disclosed that the initiative is expected to create jobs for engineers, builders, artisans, suppliers, and service providers, while also boosting activity in related sectors such as cement, steel, agro-processing, logistics, and transportation.

She noted that the settlements will prioritise efficient land use, access roads, reliable water solutions, and environmentally responsible building practices to support sustainable, long-term community growth.

Uzoka-Anite also called on developers, financial institutions, pension funds, real estate investors, and agribusiness operators to see the project as a scalable model that can be replicated across Niger State and other parts of the country.

The Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, welcomed the initiative, emphasising that while sustainability is essential, affordability must remain a key priority.

He pledged that the state would make available 100,000 hectares of land for the project, adding that the Certificate of Occupancy for the land would be issued by Monday.

The governor said the project could resolve up to 80 per cent of the challenges constraining Niger State’s agricultural potential, while also creating space for organised grazing reserves for nomadic communities.

Nigeria continues to face food insecurity, rising rural poverty, and a significant housing deficit.

By integrating mass housing with agricultural settlements, the initiative could help stabilise rural communities, boost farm productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, attract youth participation in agriculture, and ease pressure on urban centres.

The MoU follows earlier calls by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, for a more adaptive and resilient agricultural strategy.

Edun made the call at the inaugural meeting of the Agricultural Sector Working Group held in Abuja in April 2025.

At the meeting, the Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to attaining sustainable food security through agricultural reforms and stronger multi-sectoral collaboration.