‎The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) to expand access to affordable housing finance and deepen Nigeria's mortgage market.

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‎The Managing Director/Chief Executive of FMBN, Shehu Usman Osidi, gave the assurance on Friday, November 6, 2026, while speaking at the 2026 Mortgage Finance Roundtable 2.0 and Annual Conference of the Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN), held at Fraser Suites, Abuja.

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‎Osidi described the growth of the primary mortgage market as essential to achieving the Bank's broader housing finance objectives, emphasising the complementary roles of FMBN and PMBs in expanding access to housing finance.

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‎"FMBN should not be seen as competing with PMBs; rather, we are complementary partners with shared responsibilities in expanding access to housing finance," he stated.

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‎He disclosed that the Bank was reviewing some of its existing lending conditions for PMBs and individuals to make its processes more flexible and responsive to market realities without compromising prudent risk management. 

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‎He also highlighted opportunities for collaboration in mortgage origination, customer outreach, product distribution and servicing, as well as ongoing efforts to examine MBAN's proposed blended finance framework.

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‎"Stronger partnerships between FMBN and PMBs will be mutually beneficial and will contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable mortgage market," Osidi stated.

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‎The MD/CE also highlighted FMBN's expanding product offerings, including the Diaspora Mortgage Loan, the recently launched non-interest lease-to-own mortgage product and the forthcoming Rent Assistance facility.

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‎In his keynote address, the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, PhD, outlined a six-point reform agenda to strengthen Nigeria's mortgage finance ecosystem. The proposed reforms include enhanced institutional regulation in the housing sector, expanding NHF contributors to 10 million, recapitalizing FMBN to N1 trillion and establishing a Housing Purchaser Protection Tribunal.

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‎The Minister called on mortgage institutions to partner with the Federal Government in implementing the reforms, accessing the NMRC liquidity window, originating diaspora mortgages and expanding services to the millions of NHF contributors awaiting access to mortgage facilities.

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‎"The Ministry is ready. I look forward to building this with you," he declared.

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‎Earlier, the President of MBAN, Mr. Ayodele Olowookere, welcomed stakeholders to the conference and acknowledged their contributions to advancing housing finance through sustained engagements with government, regulators and funding institutions. 

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‎He highlighted the Association's efforts over the past year, including engagements with the Central Bank of Nigeria on mortgage sector guidelines, FMBN, NMRC and other development finance partners to explore sustainable funding opportunities. 

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‎The MBAN President challenged participants to translate the engagements and institutional commitments into tangible outcomes, stressing that the true measure of the conference would be the clarity of its resolutions and collective commitment to implementation.

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‎The Conference themed, "Mortgage Finance in Nigeria - Building Resilience, Partnerships and Scale" attracted key stakeholders across the housing and financial sectors, including the  Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, represented by the Director, Development and Financial Institutions Department, CBN, Mr. Ali Baba Mairami, who reaffirmed the CBN's commitment to maintaining clear regulatory frameworks, strengthening risk-based supervision and supporting innovations and engagements that promote affordable housing.

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‎Also in attendance was the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Minister on Fiscal Policy,

‎Mr. Temitayo Owolabi, alongside the President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Oba Akintoye Adeoye, and other industry leaders and stakeholders.

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‎Day One of the event also featured a panel session on "Housing Finance Models: Lessons and Opportunities," which brought together the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, the MD/CE of FMBN, Shehu Usman Osidi, the MD/CEO of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), Mr. Kehinde Ogundimu, the Chairman of CityCode Mortgage Bank, Mr. Mac Yoroki, and the Director of the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), Barr. Festus Adebayo.

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‎The discussion examined innovative housing finance models, sustainable funding structures, institutional collaboration and strategies for deepening mortgage penetration in Nigeria. A major highlight was the strong advocacy for greater inclusion of the informal sector in mortgage finance, with the HDAN Director emphasising the need for financing models that accommodate the income patterns and realities of this largely underserved segment of the population.

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‎The event provided a platform for policymakers, regulators and industry operators to exchange perspectives and advance practical solutions towards building a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable mortgage finance sector in Nigeria.

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