LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM | August 12, 2026 – Nigerians living abroad now have a new pathway to finance and own homes in Nigeria following the official launch of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) NHF Diaspora Mortgage Loan in London.
The initiative was officially launched on August 7, 2026, as part of FMBN’s efforts to extend access to housing finance to Nigerians living and working outside the country.
The new mortgage product is designed to address some of the challenges Nigerians in the diaspora face when attempting to acquire property in Nigeria, including fraudulent property transactions, unreliable intermediaries and limited access to mortgage finance from overseas.
According to FMBN, eligible Nigerians living abroad can participate in the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme, complete their Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements digitally, make contributions remotely and access mortgage financing without necessarily having to travel to Nigeria.
Up to ₦100 Million in Mortgage Financing
Under the new Diaspora Mortgage Loan, qualified applicants can access financing of up to ₦100 million, at an interest rate of 9 per cent per annum, with a maximum repayment tenor of 10 years, subject to affordability, eligibility and other applicable requirements.
The maximum amount does not mean every applicant will automatically qualify for ₦100 million. The amount available to an individual will depend on factors including the applicant’s circumstances, affordability and FMBN’s applicable lending requirements.
The initiative is expected to give Nigerians abroad a more structured way to finance residential property in Nigeria while reducing their dependence on informal arrangements and intermediaries.
FMBN: More Than a Diaspora Mortgage Product
Speaking at the London launch, FMBN Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Shehu Usman Osidi, said the initiative should be seen as part of a wider national housing finance strategy.
“This is not simply a Diaspora product. It is a national housing finance strategy,” Osidi said.
According to the FMBN chief executive, the initiative goes beyond helping Nigerians abroad acquire homes.
It is also expected to stimulate housing construction, create jobs, support developers, deepen mortgage penetration and attract additional foreign exchange into Nigeria.
The programme therefore positions Nigerians in the diaspora not only as prospective homeowners but also as potential contributors to the growth of Nigeria’s housing and construction sectors.
NiDCOM: A Programme Built Around Investment, Belonging and Trust
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. (Dr.) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, also welcomed the initiative.
Dabiri-Erewa described the programme as one built around “investment, belonging and trust”, while encouraging Nigerians living abroad to take advantage of the opportunity.
For many Nigerians overseas, investing in property back home can be complicated by distance, difficulties verifying property ownership and concerns about agents or relatives handling transactions on their behalf.
The Diaspora Mortgage Loan is intended to provide a more formal framework through which eligible Nigerians can engage with the housing finance system while living outside the country.
How Nigerians Abroad Can Apply
Nigerians interested in the Diaspora Mortgage Loan should use FMBN’s official online channels to begin the process and verify the current eligibility and documentation requirements.
FMBN’s website states that its online services allow customers to register and obtain an NHF number, update their records, apply for FMBN loan products and make monthly NHF contributions.
Official FMBN Website
Visit the official Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria website
Diaspora NHF Mortgage Loan
View the official FMBN Diaspora Mortgage Loan page
NHF Online Registration Portal
Eligible applicants can also access FMBN’s official NHF registration portal to begin the registration process.
Access the official FMBN NHF registration portal
Applicants should ensure that they use only official FMBN platforms and verified mortgage channels when submitting personal information or making payments.
FMBN’s terms of use confirm that its online service supports NHF registration, loan applications and monthly NHF contributions. The bank also warns customers to protect their passwords, PINs and access credentials and not disclose them to third parties.
What Nigerians in the Diaspora Need to Know
The launch is particularly significant for Nigerians living in countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and other parts of the world, where large Nigerian communities maintain strong financial and family ties with Nigeria.
For someone living in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Houston, Toronto or elsewhere, the ability to begin the NHF and mortgage process remotely could remove one of the major obstacles associated with purchasing property thousands of miles away.
However, prospective applicants should not assume that completing an online registration automatically guarantees mortgage approval.
Applicants will still need to satisfy FMBN’s applicable requirements, provide the necessary documentation and demonstrate affordability.
FMBN’s wider NHF mortgage framework also operates through accredited Primary Mortgage Banks for certain mortgage facilities, making it important for applicants to verify the appropriate channel for their particular application.
Why the Scheme Matters
Property ownership has remained an important investment goal for many Nigerians living abroad.
However, distance from Nigeria can make property transactions difficult. Some diaspora Nigerians have lost money through fraudulent land deals, unverified property documents or unreliable agents and intermediaries.
A government-backed mortgage structure could provide an additional layer of formality and accountability, particularly when applicants deal directly with FMBN and approved channels.
The initiative also has implications for Nigeria’s wider economy.
Diaspora Nigerians already send significant financial resources to families and businesses in Nigeria. By connecting some of that financial capacity to housing development, FMBN hopes the new mortgage product can help direct additional funds into the construction and real estate sectors.
A New Route to Homeownership Back Home
The launch of the NHF Diaspora Mortgage Loan in London represents a significant expansion of FMBN’s approach to housing finance.
Rather than limiting mortgage access to Nigerians physically present in the country, the initiative seeks to bring the process closer to citizens living abroad through digital registration, remote KYC and access to mortgage financing.
For Nigerians who have always wanted to build or purchase a home in Nigeria but have been discouraged by the challenges of distance, financing or property fraud, the programme could offer a more structured alternative.
The real test, however, will be how efficiently the system works in practice, how quickly applications are processed, how properties are verified and how effectively applicants are protected from fraudulent intermediaries.
If successfully implemented, the scheme could become an important bridge between Nigeria’s housing finance sector and the millions of Nigerians living outside the country.
For now, the London launch sends a clear message: FMBN wants Nigerians abroad to play a bigger role in Nigeria’s housing market, while giving them a more structured route towards owning property back home.
Official Application Links
FMBN Official Website:
fmbn.gov.ng
Diaspora NHF Mortgage Loan:
FMBN Diaspora Mortgage Loan
NHF Registration Portal:
FMBN NHF Registration Portal
