Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Finance has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Niger State Government to develop large scale housing and agricultural settlements aimed at strengthening food security, rural livelihoods and economic growth. The agreement was signed in Abuja by the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka Anite, and Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, with the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated providing project coordination, according to reports by Thisdaylive.
The initiative will see about 100,000 hectares of land in Niger State allocated for integrated settlements that combine affordable housing with organised agricultural production. Government officials said the model is designed to support farmers with stable housing, modern infrastructure and access to markets, while also improving productivity across key agricultural value chains, as outlined during the signing ceremony.
Financing for the project will adopt a blended structure that leverages public assets alongside private capital to ensure long term sustainability. Uzoka Anite said the partnership reflects a broader strategy of cooperative federalism and asset optimisation, adding that it is expected to generate jobs across construction, agriculture, processing and logistics, according to nairametrics.
Governor Bago described the MoU as a major step toward transforming Niger State into a hub for food production and rural development. He added that the state is open to partnerships with developers, agribusiness firms and financial institutions to scale the initiative, which officials say could serve as a template for similar projects across the country, based on briefings from the state government and participating agencies.
