The Federal Government is exploring the introduction of a Green Mortgage Scheme in collaboration with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) to promote the construction and uptake of energy-efficient, climate-smart homes across Nigeria.
The initiative is part of broader efforts to align Nigeria’s housing sector with global climate goals and support the Renewed Hope Housing Programme under President Bola Tinubu’s Administration.
Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, revealed this during a high-level meeting with a delegation from GIZ led by Karin Jansen, First Secretary and Head of Cooperation, held in Abuja.
He also announced that Nigeria had been named a key partner in the Partnership for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB), a flagship initiative supported by GIZ that aims to scale up energy efficiency measures in the building sector.
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Dangiwa lauded PEEB’s alignment with the Ministry’s vision to develop affordable, climate-resilient communities, noting the programme’s success in countries like Mexico, Vietnam, and Tunisia.
In particular, he highlighted Mexico’s integration of green mortgages and expressed optimism about replicating such models within the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) through the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme.
“The building and construction sector is a major contributor to energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Promoting energy-efficient practices and green building designs is crucial for achieving our national climate goals and securing a livable environment for future generations”, he said.
To institutionalise sustainability in housing delivery, the Ministry is already partnering with the International Finance Corporation, IFC’s EDGE platform to train technical staff, developers, and project managers on green building practices.
Dangiwa confirmed that all Ministry-led housing projects, including the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme, would incorporate energy-efficient standards.
Additional plans include reviewing the National Building Code, establishing Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs, and upgrading the National Urban Renewal Programme to embed green infrastructure and climate resilience into urban regeneration efforts.
The Minister also outlined potential areas of collaboration with GIZ, such as technical assistance, public awareness campaigns, and advisory support for accessing climate finance, including from sources like the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Adaptation Fund, and GIZ’s own financing mechanisms.
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Markus Wagner, GIZ Country Director reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s sustainable development goals, referencing the bilateral economic agreement signed in 1974 and the 2008 German-Nigeria Energy Partnership.
He emphasised GIZ’s active role through the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) and PEEB in helping Nigeria institutionalise energy-efficient architecture and low-emission construction practices.
Wagner invited Dangiwa to serve as Special Guest of Honour at the official launch of the PEEB Cool Enabling Facility in Nigeria, scheduled for June 10, 2025.
He also announced that May would feature targeted interventions, including energy audits in 14 tertiary healthcare facilities and support for energy efficiency measures in Kano State.
