Tinubu launches housing scheme, says diaspora can now own homes nationwide
President Bola Tinubu has unveiled a new housing platform to enable Nigerians living abroad to buy homes directly in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The scheme, called the Diaspora Home and Abroad Housing Platform, is a joint initiative of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
The announcement was made on Friday at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during the 2025 National Diaspora Day celebrations.
Tinubu, who was represented by George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation, said the initiative is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda to promote inclusive development.
“The scheme in collaboration with Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and Federal Mortgage Bank will enable Nigerians abroad to purchase houses directly in all states of the federation and the FCT. This is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
“I want to use this opportunity to commend the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and the Management and Staff of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), for your dynamic initiatives, activities, and engagements with the Diaspora community, especially in the creation of laudable programmes for Nigerians in Diaspora to invest back home.”
Highlighting the financial strength of the Diaspora, Tinubu said Nigerians abroad sent home $20.93 billion in 2024 through official channels — more than four times the value of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the same year.
“Last year, 2024, our Diaspora Home Remittances through official channels stood at $20.93 billion, which is over four times the value of our Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),” he said.
The president described the Diaspora as a strategic pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy direction under the 4D agenda—Democracy, Demography, Development, and Diaspora.
“Our Renewed Hope Foreign Policy recognises the Diaspora as the fourth pillar in the 4D Agenda, viz Democracy, Demography, Development, and Diaspora. We will continue to provide an enabling platform for effective policies for the Diaspora,” he affirmed.
Tinubu said National Diaspora Day, institutionalised through the 2021 National Diaspora Policy, is more than a ceremonial event.
According to him, it serves as a platform to connect Nigerians abroad with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), state governments, and civil society.
“The National Diaspora Policy—2021prescribes July 25th annually as a day to celebrate Nigerians in the Diaspora by recognising their contributions to national development and networking them to MDAs, State Diaspora Focal Point Officers, and CSOs,” he explained.
He also listed other engagement efforts, such as the Diaspora Merit Award, Diaspora Investment Summit, Diaspora Mortgage Scheme, and the Badagry Door of Return Festival, as tools for building stronger ties between Nigeria and its citizens abroad.
As he declared the event open, Tinubu congratulated Diaspora achievers and award recipients for their contributions across sectors.
“I congratulate all Nigerians in the Diaspora on this great occasion of your celebrations and I commend you all on the so many giant strides… I declare the National Diaspora Day celebrations 2025 open,” he said.
The 2025 celebration is themed “Optimising Formidable Diaspora Potentials for National Development and Growth” and features investment forums, awards, and policy dialogues.
