Qatar Government has commenced the construction of a 500,000 housing units project dubbed the Qatar Sanabil Project, in Nigeria. This follows the inauguration of the project by Qatar’s Ambassador to Nigeria Dr. Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri, at the Millennium City in Kaduna State. Besides affordable accommodation, the mega city project will also comprise healthcare facilities, shops, agricultural amenities, high-quality infrastructure, and intervention programs for the less privileged, which consequently provide employment and improve the living standards of people in the area.

The project is expected to benefit and thrive from Kaduna’s position as a popular transport and business hub in Nigeria. It will also foster security in the region which in turn drives a business-friendly environment. Moreover, it will enhance international trade and consequently boost the economic growth of the region and country.

Notably, Qatar’s investment decision is in line with the increased focus by foreign entities’ support of Africa’s Affordable Housing Initiative, mainly through developments or financing projects. 

For example in July 2023, the UK government pledged support for Ghana’s mass affordable housing construction. Similarly in 2021, the UK government committed $36 Mn to South Africa’s Divercity Urban Property Fund (Divercity), to finance the construction of 2,500 green affordable housing projects. 

Furthermore, in Kenya, the Qatar government committed $3.5 Bn in support of the development of 140,000 units in 2019. This was topped off in 2021 by the UK government through Holcim and BII, in their initiative to develop Mvule Gardens, one of Africa’s largest 3D-printed affordable housing projects depicted below. The green project is located in Kilifi County and comprises 52 units distributed into one, two, and three bedrooms. 

Additionally in June 2023, China Building Technology Group (CBTG) partnered with the Kenyan government to deliver 2,000 housing units under the Samara Housing Project. This is a two and three bedroom apartment project located in Kiambu County:

Overall, this increase in focus from foreign entities is expected to continue even as various African countries seek to curb their housing gaps through their individual affordable housing initiatives. 

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