The Federal Government has announced plans to build 10,000 houses for doctors, nurses, and other health workers across Nigeria, aiming to reduce the mass migration of medical professionals abroad.
The housing project, known as the Renewed Hope Medic City, was unveiled at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, in collaboration with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and healthcare unions.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the initiative, Dr. Aliyu Wammako, represented by REDAN’s Deputy President, Mercy Iyortyer, said the project is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.
Wammako said, “Over the years, we have witnessed an alarming exodus of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare personnel seeking better opportunities abroad. This initiative is designed to address the root causes of the brain drain, including poor access to affordable housing, challenging working conditions, and limited professional growth opportunities.”
He added, “By providing affordable homes and creating enabling environments, we are laying the groundwork for a more robust healthcare system.”
In the past five years, over 16,000 doctors, 15,000 nurses, and 5,208 pharmacists have left Nigeria, leaving the health sector under pressure.
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The President of REDAN, Akintoye Adeoye, described the housing plan as a major step forward. “We aim to build systems of delivery that are bankable, transparent, and sustainable. From planning to occupancy, each step must reflect a shared sense of purpose and responsibility,” he said.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Housing Initiative, Dr. Suleiman Sadiq, said the project will be demand-driven to ensure fairness and proper allocation.
Sadiq emphasised, “These houses will be allocated to qualified beneficiaries through a smooth and transparent process. Mortgage rates under this scheme will be about five times lower than the 30 percent charged by some commercial banks.”
Stakeholders believe the housing plan will encourage more healthcare workers to remain in Nigeria, helping to strengthen the nation’s struggling health system.