Yes — a Nigerian USD earner abroad can qualify for the FMBN Diaspora National Housing Fund (NHF) Mortgage by registering with the NHF scheme, contributing $150–$200 monthly for at least 12 months, and then applying through an accredited Primary Mortgage Bank for a loan of up to ₦100 million at 9% annual interest, repayable over as long as 10 years, entirely online without traveling to Nigeria. FMBN launched a new mortgage scheme in London for Nigerians living abroad who want to own homes in Nigeria, and eligible NHF contributors can access up to N100 million at an interest rate of nine per cent per annum, with repayment spread over a period of up to 10 years, depending on the applicant's repayment capacity.
The Diaspora NHF Mortgage will offer Nigerians in the Diaspora mortgage loans to buy houses in Nigeria, giving them an opportunity to register with the National Housing Fund scheme, make monthly contributions, and ultimately access mortgage loans to own houses anywhere in Nigeria without having to physically come to Nigeria before participating. The product was formally relaunched and expanded at a London event in August 2026, where the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) unveiled its National Housing Fund Diaspora Mortgage Products as part of a push to make housing finance accessible regardless of where a Nigerian lives.
To be eligible, the applicant must be a first-time beneficiary of the NHF loan, must have verifiable means of income, and must be a Nigerian in Diaspora by the definition of the 'National Diaspora Policy'. FMBN also flags that participation is a mortgage product targeted at Nigerians living outside the shores of the country, and the bank requires compliance with anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism-financing rules before onboarding.
Monthly NHF contributions are tiered by income: applicants register with the NHF and contribute $150 monthly if they earn less than $3,000, and $200 if they earn $3,000 or more, for 12 months. On the equity side, the applicant pays 30% of the value of the property while 70% is provided as the NHF Diaspora Mortgage loan, plus a non-refundable $50 application fee payable to FMBN. The loan attracts a 9% interest rate per annum, confirmed again at the 2026 relaunch.
The maximum loan amount has been increased from FMBN's original ₦50 million cap to ₦100 million under the 2026 diaspora-focused rollout, with a 9% annual interest rate with a maximum repayment period of 10 years. Actual amounts offered depend on individual affordability: the amount available to each applicant will depend on factors like income and repayment capacity. Advance, monthly, and annual repayment is permissible, and the earlier the debtor repays, the earlier property rights transfer to the mortgagor — but a default of up to 3 months gives the bank the right to dispose of the property without recourse to the borrower.
- Register under the NHF scheme and complete KYC digitally — applicants can register under the NHF Scheme, complete KYC requirements digitally, make contributions remotely, and access mortgage financing from outside the country.
- Contribute $150 or $200 monthly, trackable via the Bank's USSD Code *219# or online platform.
- Wait out the minimum period — after contributing for the minimum period of 12 months, applicants become eligible to apply for the mortgage loan through the Primary Mortgage Bank's online platform, though the application itself can be started after 9 months of contributing.
- Apply through an accredited Primary Mortgage Bank (PMB), which manages contributions and loan processing on FMBN's behalf.
- Select or confirm the property, since FMBN and partner developers may help source eligible units in cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano.
Expect to provide the online application form, a copy of the data page of your international passport, and recent payslips for 3 months alongside bank statements for 6 months. Employees typically also need a letter confirming employment status, while the self-employed must supply a certificate of business registration from their country of residence.
Property used to secure the loan is at risk on default, and disposal terms are strict — build a repayment buffer before committing. Also confirm current tenor and cap details directly with FMBN or your Primary Mortgage Bank before applying, since the product's terms (loan ceiling, tenor) have changed between its earlier published PDF and the 2026 London relaunch, and FX movements can affect how far your dollar contributions stretch toward the naira-denominated loan and property price.
Qualifying for this mortgage means sustaining $150–$200 monthly contributions for at least a year, saving a 30% equity deposit, and tracking documentation like payslips and bank statements — all while managing income and accounts across two currencies and countries. Kampe is a read-only tool that aggregates your accounts and helps you plan around goals like this one; it does not move or hold your money, so your contributions and mortgage payments still flow directly between you, the NHF, and your Primary Mortgage Bank. Used this way, it can help a USD earner see, in one place, whether their savings pace lines up with the 12-month contribution requirement and the equity they'll need before applying.