The Federal Government has announced plans to replicate a new integrated housing and agricultural settlement model across the country, which is currently being piloted in Niger State. The initiative is described as a template for inclusive growth, food security, and rural development

The Minister of State for Finance, Mrs. Doris Uzoka-Anite, made this known on Friday in Abuja at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Niger State Government and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) for the project.

Uzoka-Anite said the partnership reflected cooperative federalism and would form the basis for similar developments nationwide, with Niger State serving as the pilot for the new model.

She explained that the project was deliberately structured to deliver affordable and functional housing for farmers and low- to middle-income earners, stressing that the settlements were not luxury estates but designed to reflect the income realities of rural dwellers.

“Affordability and inclusiveness are central to this initiative. These settlements are not luxury estates. They are designed to be functional, cost-effective, and aligned with the income realities of farmers and low- to middle-income earners. Transparent allocation mechanisms and strong governance structures will ensure that the benefits reach the intended beneficiaries,” she said.

Under the MoU, Niger State has offered 100,000 hectares of land to the Federal Government for the development of mass housing and agricultural settlements that integrate farming, housing, renewable energy and rural infrastructure.

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, said the allocation of such a vast expanse of land was aimed at ensuring affordability and long-term sustainability of the scheme, which targets farmers and low-income earners.

“When you talk about sustainability, affordability is key. That is why Niger State is bringing forward 100,000 hectares of land for this project,” Bago said.

He noted that the initiative was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and was designed to end the long-standing disconnect between where farmers live and where they work.

Bago said that despite the state’s vast agricultural potential, insecurity, rural-urban migration and poor infrastructure had continued to limit productivity, adding that clustering farmers into planned settlements would improve output, reduce post-harvest losses and enhance security.

He disclosed that the project would be linked to broader development plans, including farm estates along the proposed Abuja–Minna rail corridor, irrigation supported by water from the state’s hydropower dams, and the creation of grazing reserves to reduce farmer-herder conflicts.

The governor also revealed that Niger State would issue certificates of occupancy for the land to the Federal Government within days to demonstrate commitment to speedy implementation.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of MOFI, Mr Armstrong Takang, said the initiative was designed to close the long-standing gap between agriculture, housing and energy policies.

He said the project would deliver fully serviced communities with roads, water, sanitation, schools and health facilities, while easing pressure on major cities.

Takang added that MOFI would leverage public land and assets to attract private capital through a transparent financing model, noting that each house built under the scheme was expected to generate at least 12 direct jobs, with thousands more created across farming, agro-processing, logistics and related services.

He said the Niger pilot would serve as a blueprint for similar farm-housing settlements across the country.

(The Sun)