News
Nigerian Government Launches N250 Billion Fund for Affordable Housing and Economic Growth
The Nigerian government has officially launched the N250 billion Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF).
The announcement was made on Thursday via a statement from the Federal Ministry of Finance’s official X account.
According to the government, the fund’s primary goal is to provide low-cost, long-term mortgage financing, particularly focusing on the housing and construction industries, which are vital sectors for job creation and economic development.
At the signing ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, stated the importance of the initiative in bridging the country’s significant housing finance gap.
He explained that the new fund would offer mortgages with terms of up to 25 years, a stark contrast to the short-term, high-interest loans typically provided by commercial banks.
This longer repayment period is expected to make homeownership more accessible and affordable for Nigerians.
Edun also shared details about the fund’s structure, revealing that the first series, worth N150 billion, aims to attract substantial private-sector investment.
A second series, which will raise an additional N100 billion, will follow.
The initiative is closely aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision to promote widespread homeownership, create jobs, and drive economic growth, particularly in the construction and real estate sectors.
Armstrong Takang, the Managing Director of MOFI, also spoke on the impact of the initiative, emphasizing that the MREIF will allow Nigerians to build generational wealth through sustainable homeownership.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reportedly declared a strike at Taraba State University over outstanding salary-related demands and delays in payments.
The strike is scheduled to begin today, October 12, 2026. According to the union’s chairman, the union had been engaging the Taraba State Government over its outstanding demands since February 2026.
“The union had exercised considerable patience and demonstrated its commitment to dialogue since February 2026, when it began engaging the Taraba State Government over the outstanding issues,” Mbave said.
“The union had earlier suspended its planned industrial action following an appeal by the government for additional time through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, in the interest of maintaining industrial harmony,” the chairman added.
The Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Torseer Yina, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the ancient town.
The curfew takes effect from Thursday, October 8, 2026, following unrest and violent protests in the area.
According to reports, the action was taken to contain the unrest and violent protests by members of BEMOA following the death of one of its members by unknown gunmen.
The protest, which was reportedly hijacked by hoodlums, turned violent after an angry mob burnt two vehicles belonging to the Benue State Civil Protection Guards.
The Gboko council chairman said the curfew takes effect immediately and warned that anyone caught flouting the order or breaching public peace would be decisively dealt with.
Nine people have died in a fatal road crash along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.
The crash occurred on Monday at about 4:55pm around the Bethel area along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore axis of the expressway. It involved a white Toyota Hiace commercial bus belonging to Delta Line and a white Sino truck operated by Bill Gas Solution Ltd.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), all nine people involved in the crash, comprising three males and six females, died in the incident.
The FRSC said the crash occurred while it was raining and the road was wet, with preliminary investigations identifying speed violation as the probable cause.
The FRSC rescue team arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the report, while the bodies of the victims were taken to the General Hospital Morgue in Ijebu-Ode.
The Ogun State Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to obey speed limits and exercise extra caution when driving in the rain.
Judge Tells Duane Davis He Must Face Justice for Tupac’s Murder
Timini Egbuson Reflects on Embracing YouTube Movies in Nollywood
