Nigeria Strengthens Collaboration with UN-Habitat on Sustainable Urban Development
National Urban Policy Reform Accelerated Through FG-UN-Habitat Cooperation
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reinforced its collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to scale up affordable housing delivery and support the development of resilient, inclusive, climate-smart cities. The renewed focus on strategic cooperation follows high-level engagements involving the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, highlighting expanded programme alignment under existing partnerships.
At a meeting in Abuja, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, outlined the Government’s appreciation for UN-Habitat’s technical and programme support across several key areas of national housing and urban policy.
Partnership Focus: Affordable Housing and Urban Resilience
The Federal Government and UN-Habitat are advancing cooperation under the current Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to pursue coordinated action on:
Affordable housing programmes targeting vulnerable populations and social housing delivery
Climate-responsive housing initiatives that integrate resilience to climate change and rapid urbanisation
Urban policy reform, including review and strengthening of the National Urban Development Policy
Slum upgrading and urban renewal strategies that improve living conditions in under-served communities
Access to international climate finance from multilateral funding institutions to support housing and sustainable infrastructure projects
Dangiwa noted that these partnerships align with broader government priorities to rebuild livelihoods in post-conflict areas and strengthen social cohesion among displaced persons and host communities.
Continued Support for Displaced Persons and Urban Integration
Ongoing programmes supported by UN-Habitat, including the European Union-funded Sustainable Integrated Development Programme for Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria (SIDPIN), have delivered durable housing solutions and enhanced community integration in states such as Adamawa, Kano and Borno. These interventions are designed to integrate displaced households into local economies and urban systems while addressing key shelter and infrastructure needs.
UN-Habitat officials also highlighted multi-scale planning approaches being deployed in collaboration with other international partners, which aim to provide sustainable, durable solutions for internally displaced populations across states including Kano, Yobe, Adamawa and Benue.
Mobilising Finance and Advancing Inclusive Urban Solutions
A central challenge identified by the ministry is budgetary constraints, which have limited the pace and scale of implementation for housing and climate-adaptive urban development projects. In response, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is prioritising access to international climate finance, innovative financing mechanisms, and multi-stakeholder resource mobilisation to supplement domestic funding gaps.
The partnership also emphasises the importance of gender-responsive initiatives, recognising that women are disproportionately affected by climate change impacts and conflict-induced displacement. Targeted social housing programmes and inclusive city planning efforts are expected to address such inequities.
Policy Integration and Forward Engagement
The strengthened engagement with UN-Habitat supports the ministry’s ongoing review of urban policy frameworks, including the National Urban Development Policy, which seeks to integrate housing, land use planning, climate resilience and spatial management into a cohesive strategy.
Both parties also acknowledged the strategic importance of international urban forums such as the upcoming Africa Urban Forum in Nairobi and the World Urban Forum later in 2026 as platforms for knowledge exchange, policy advocacy and coalition building in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to cities and human settlements.
Conclusion: Building an Inclusive, Climate-Responsive Urban Future
The Federal Government’s partnership with UN-Habitat represents a significant commitment to addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit and urban development challenges through internationally aligned, policy-driven collaboration. By leveraging technical expertise, structured financing options and inclusive planning practices, the government aims to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing and transform urban landscapes into resilient, climate-smart environments.
For policymakers, investors and urban stakeholders, the expanded cooperation underscores Nigeria’s intent to harmonise national development priorities with global best practices on sustainable urbanisation and affordable housing delivery.
