Dec

01

2023

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Commissions TETFund Sponsored Projects- Faculty of Education Building, University Library, ICT/ Research University Library, ICT/Research Centre in Ebonyi State University

....Describes Education as a Bedrock to National Development

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR has described education as one of the most critical sectors of our national development that would be given priority by his Renewed Hope administration The President disclosed this during the commissioning of the TETFund sponsored education projects in Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. The President who was represented by the Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON commended TETFund for the roles it has been playing in advancing educational development in Nigeria noting that education has a pride of place in the 2024 proposed project which is now before the National Assembly for consideration.

"TETFund is playing vital roles in our educational system. TETFund has over the years played the role of bridging the gap of infrastructure and research in our tertiary institutions."

The President commended the Governor for the environment provided by State which saw to the successful completion of the TETFund sponsored projects." I want to thank you very much our dear Governor. You are well suited for this position". He also commended the TETFund management for the sense of prudence and value for money exhibited in the course of the execution of the TETFund projects in the University and  gave assurances that education and road infrastructure among other critical sectors of the economy shall attract unprecedented commitment  of the  Renewed Hope administration as they are among the precursors for the  rejigging of the national economy.

In his earlier address, the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt Hon. Bldr Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, FNIOB, GGCEHF described as laudable the TETFund sponsored projects in the University and commended the Federal Government for finding the State worthy of benefiting from such funding from TETFund. "I have analyzed the project of TETFund, I have looked at it and found out that the value of and the reason for the project is enormous. This is the Agency of government that is not given to any story. If you are a contractor to TETFund, you must know they don't take story. “There is no provision for revaluation of job, no variation” And this he said is the way to go for us to show effectiveness and efficiency in the use of the taxpayers’ resources. The Governor expressed hope that TETFund would give more interventions to the State, noting that a lot of interventions had eluded the State especially infrastructural interventions from Federal Government and so the State is hoping to benefit more from the Federal Government.   He thanked the representative of Mr. President for his roles in the Federal Government's interventions in the State so far and hoped that more would be attracted to the State.

In their earlier remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Chigozie N  Ogbu, OFR and the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S T Echono, OON, FNIA took their turns to commend the President of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his manifest commitment in raising the bar in educational development in Nigeria, particularly his interest in the development of tertiary education.

The Vice Chancellor noted that it was the first time in the history of the University that TETFund sponsored projects were being commissioned at the University and they are grateful to the President. "I am very happy to report that all our infrastructural and supply projects from TETFund are completed except for one pending installation of the solar panels for the lecture podia already supplied. "We are grateful to TETFund for these impactful input into the development of Ebonyi State University".

The Executive Secretary of TETFund on his own part said he was optimistic that the TETFund sponsored projects in the University would strengthen the University's efforts in becoming a global player in the tertiary education sub- sector and significantly contribute to educational research and development. "Our resolve as a Fund is to ensure that our interventions are sustained and improved upon as much as possible to enable our institutions undertake bigger and more laudable and impactful projects that will make them become globally competitive and situate them in enviable positions among their peers both nationally and globally. We shall continually engage with our beneficiary institutions towards ensuring the delivery of iconic and impactful intervention projects in subsequent intervention years."

It is noteworthy to mention that the Projects commissioned by Mr. President were attracted by the representative of the President when he was the Governor of Ebonyi State. The Projects commissioned are:

[1] Faculty of Education
This is a Four-Floor structure containing 27 classrooms, 3 major teaching laboratories, 66 offices, Faculty Library and 2 lecture theaters. The classrooms, offices, laboratories, and lecture theaters are furnished.

[2] University Library
This is a three-floor structure housing e-Library, Library Sections for each Faculty; Sections for bindery, references and cataloging. There is a section for bookshop. There are twelve offices and a Board Room.

[3] Information Communication Technology/Research Center
This is a 2-Floor building containing 500 seating capacity furnished auditorium, four ICT Halls with 582 desktop computers for CBT Exams and training. MacArthur Foundation Advertising Practitioners Laboratory and offices.

Nov

30

2023

Minister of Housing to Encourage Increased Private Sector Investment in Housing, Breaks Ground for 480-Unit CityGate Homes Project in Abuja

…Urges private developers to build integrated, inclusive communities that are inclusive.

As part of efforts to encourage increased private sector participation towards solving Nigeria’s housing deficit, the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, on Thursday, 30 November 2023 performed the ground-breaking for a 480-housing unit project at the Kukwaba area of Abuja.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister said the Renewed Hope Agenda for Housing and Urban Development requires the participation of the private sector to bridge the housing deficit in the country, as the quantum of funding required to fix the housing shortage is beyond what government can provide.

The project by CityGate Homes covers phases II and III of the company’s Kukwaba housing project. It comprises 480 housing units of 6-bedroom semi-detached duplexes and 4-bedroom blocks of flats. Arc. Dangiwa described the ground-breaking event as a significant contribution to the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to address the housing crisis in the country.

“The initiative taken by Citygate Homes aligns perfectly with the government's vision for sustainable urban development. This project embodies the collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors, showcasing how partnerships can drive impactful change and contribute to the growth and development of our nation.

“In a rapidly growing city like Abuja, the demand for housing has surged, and it is our collective responsibility to respond to this need. I commend Citygate Homes for their dedication and investment in this endeavor. This housing project will not only provide shelter but will also create job opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and contribute significantly to the enhancement of the local community,” he said.

While the Minister assured that government will continue to provide the enabling environment for private-sector investment to thrive, especially with the uncommon determination displayed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cater for the welfare of Nigerians, he urged them to embrace sustainability, inclusivity, and affordability in their housing and urban development drive.

“I commend Citygate Homes for their dedication and investment in this endeavor. This housing project will not only provide shelter but will also create job opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and contribute significantly to the enhancement of the local community. Furthermore, I want to emphasize the importance of sustainability and inclusivity in urban development. As we move forward, it is imperative that our housing projects incorporate eco-friendly designs, embrace technological advancements, and cater to the diverse needs of our society, including the low- and medium-income earners.

“In this regard, I will request that the Management of City Gate Homes earmark a certain percentage of the 480-homes as affordable housing with price tags that average Nigerians can afford to buy. As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I am an advocate of affordable housing with the focus on the average Nigerian worker, who are indeed, the majority,” he added.

He added that developers should borrow a leaf from the Ministry which has recently designed a housing plan to create integrated communities with housing types that reflect the diverse income segments of the country, using cross subsidies. “This way we aim to sell high-end homes at market rates and deploy the profits towards subsidizing the units for low-and-medium-income households. This enhances inclusivity,” he added.

He further urged the management of CityGate Homes to ensure timely execution of the 480 units, while upholding the highest building codes and standards, as well as operating transparently.

Speaking earlier, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CityGate Homes, Michael Ejiogu noted that the company has nine projects in Abuja, and is committed to partnering the government in its quest to bridge the housing gap in Nigeria, assuring that the company will work to ensure affordability for medium-income earners in the country.

Nov

29

2023

REMARKS BY THE HON. MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ARC. AHMED MUSA DANGIWA AT THE MEETING WITH MODERN SHELTER AT THE MINISTRY’S HEAD OFFICE IN ABUJA ON WEDNESDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2023

Protocols
Good afternoon, ladies, and gentlemen,
•    First, I would like to welcome the Managing Director of Modern Shelter, Mr. Abdulmalik and his team to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

•    I also want to commend the MD for the presentation and their desire to  partner with the Ministry as we chart a new and progressive path towards achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for housing and urban development.

•    The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development acknowledges the pressing need for accessible housing for all Nigerians. We also know that the size of the housing problem that we seek to solve requires funding that government alone cannot meet.

•    So, for us, addressing the housing deficit, building livable communities, requires collaborative efforts from the Ministry, its agencies and reputable private sector developers.

•    Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) are a key part of our housing delivery program. In fact, we have a full-fledged Department in charge of that.  

•    Through PPPs, we aim to leverage the expertise and resources, especially access to finance, of the private sector while ensuring that the needs of Nigerians remain at the forefront.

•    It is for this reason that I agreed that we meet with Modern Shelter and listen to the value proposition that they can bring to our plan.

•    We have listened to your presentation and will engage with you further in identifying areas of collaboration and drawing up the necessary framework for partnership.

ADDRESSING POINTS FROM MODERN SHELTER PRESENTATION:
•    RESPOND/TALK ABOUT KEY AREAS IN THE PRESENTATION
•    MENTION POSSIBLE NEXT STEPS

•    I want to thank the Modern Shelter Management Team once again for their initiative.

•    Thank you.

Nov

28

2023

REMARKS BY THE HON. MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ARC. AHMED MUSA DANGIWA AT THE MEETING WITH THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY COMMISSION (FRC) AT THE MINISTRY’S HEAD OFFICE IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

Protocols
1.    It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and to thank you for the good work that you are doing in upholding the values of transparency and accountability in our nation's financial governance.
2.    The establishment of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission through the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 marked a pivotal milestone in our nation's pursuit of transparent and accountable financial governance.
3.    Over the years, FRC’s dedication to fostering an environment of economic prudence has provided an institutional framework for ensuring efficient resource allocation, and effective debt management.
4.    We are keenly aware of the Commission’s commitment to mainstreaming international best practices and facilitating greater efficiency in public expenditure, revenue collection, and fiscal transparency by all organs of government.
5.    I sincerely believe that your efforts in undertaking fiscal and financial studies, analyzing key economic indicators, and sharing these insights with the public are invaluable for informed decision-making.
6.    As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I clearly understand the important role that fiscal responsibility should play in guiding the management of the Ministry’s affairs. For me, fiscal responsibility is not just merely a concept; it is a cornerstone that should shape our decisions, policies, and strategies, ensuring the judicious management of the Ministry’s resources so that we can give Nigerians value for money as we conceive, develop, and implement our affordable housing and urban development plans.
7.    I also recognize that the responsible management of finances within our Ministry is not an option but a fundamental obligation to Nigerians. Every decision that we make, every resource that we allocate, carries the weight of public trust and expectation. Therefore, instilling fiscal responsibility is indeed an ethical imperative and a commitment to transparent and accountable governance.
8.    So, I want to assure you of our commitment to fostering the ideals and values that FRC promotes.
9.    I am eager to explore synergies between our entities and identify areas where our combined expertise and mandates can create meaningful impact.
10.    Thank you for gracing this meeting with your esteemed presence. I look forward to a fruitful collaboration.

Nov

28

2023

Dangiwa Reiterates Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility, Judicious Use of Resources in Housing Delivery

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has reiterated his commitment to ensuring strict adherence to fiscal responsibility in the operations of the ministry and its agencies, noting that development in the housing and urban sector is largely dependent on judicious use of resources in the conceptualisation, development, and implementation of affordable housing and urban development plans.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) at the Ministry's headquarters in Abuja, Tuesday 28th November 2023, Arc. Dangiwa said the Ministry has a fundamental obligation to manage public funds responsibly and ensure that Nigerians get value for money expended by the Ministry and its agencies.

"As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I clearly understand the important role that fiscal responsibility should play in guiding the management of the Ministry’s affairs. For me, fiscal responsibility is not just merely a concept; it is a cornerstone that should shape our decisions, policies, and strategies, ensuring the judicious management of the Ministry’s resources so that we can give Nigerians value for money as we conceive, develop, and implement our affordable housing and urban development plans," he said.

The Minister further noted that he understands the weight of public trust and will do all in his power to ensure the activities of the ministry are carried out in a transparent and accountable manner. "Every decision that we make, every resource that we allocate, carries the weight of public trust and expectation. Therefore, instilling fiscal responsibility is indeed an ethical imperative and a commitment to transparent and accountable governance," he added.

He thanked the FRC for its efforts over the years and assured them of the support of the ministry to engender fiscal responsibility and reporting within its agencies, while pledging to help the commission make a case for the review of its establishment law to ensure proper compliance by public offices.

Earlier in his remarks, the commission's Chairman, Barr. Victor Muruako noted that the Minister has always been an advocate of fiscal responsibility right from his days as Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). He sought the Minister's intervention in ensuring agencies under the Ministry adhere to annual financial reporting to the commission.

He further expressed confidence in the Minister's ability to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda for Housing and Urban Development. "As MD of the FMBN, he achieved about N270 billion in additional NHF contributions. We are also aware of the N40 billion FMBN Cities' Project which he started in his time. As Minister, I have no doubt in his experience, abilities, and commitment to developing the sector. The Renewed Hope Agenda is real, and very soon Nigerians will begin to see the results," he said.

Nov

25

2023

RE: Appointment as a Member of Inter-Governmental Committee

H.E. Dr. Abdullahi U. Ganduje, OFR.
National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC),
FCT, Abuja.

I acknowledge with the deepest appreciation the letter of Your Excellency conveying my appointment as a Member of the Inter- Governmental Committee by our great Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

2. I thank you immensely our dear National Chairman together with all the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) for the opportunity offered me to serve our great Party in this capacity and I commend you highly for the lofty ideas, innovations and successes that have been recorded under your able leadership since you came on board. I assure you of my unwavering commitment to the cause of our Party's Inter-Governmental Committee and the objectives set to be achieved.

3. Once again, thank you most profoundly and please accept always, the assurances of the esteemed regards and best wishes of my family, the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Works.

H.E. Sen. (Engr.) Nweze David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE
(Honourable Minister of Works)

Nov

24

2023

Asphalt Pavement and Concrete Pavement not Compared - Umahi.

.....We will Partner with NSE

The Minister of Works, Sen. Nweze David Umahi has reiterated the stand of the Ministry on the use of either asphalt or concrete on the construction of federal roads across the nation saying that each one has conditions attached to its usage.

He made this assertion when the President of the Nigeria Society of Engineer, Engr. Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari Wudil paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.

Umahi stated that there are many factors why the issue of concrete technology came up and it’s only because all things are not equal and can only be understood by professionals and not by people who have no knowledge about it.

“When you start to compare Asphalt and Concrete, it is as if all things are equal, here all things are not equal, because there are many factors why we are emphasizing about the use of concrete, nevertheless, people speak about  a profession they have no knowledge about” He said.

He noted that the stand of the Ministry is not about comparing asphalt pavement and concrete pavement but that if you are using either of them, there are certain conditions according to the terrains in different states that will require our roads being built with concrete as well as that concrete must be used as pavement.

“We are not just comparing asphalt and concrete, no, that is not what we are doing, first of all, for the use of asphalt, these are the conditions, also for the use of concrete, these are the conditions, but there are certain terrain in states that we stressed must use concrete, we cannot change that.  You cannot put asphalt in water, but you can put concrete into water” he said.

The Minister explained that the rate at which the prices of these two products fluctuates is alarming and that increment in asphalt is Geometric while that of concrete is in Arithmetic progression noting that the FG is the one funding these huge projects and must tread with caution taking into consideration the budgetary allocation of the Ministry of Works.

Umahi expressed his worries saying that the greatest challenge experienced in road construction is the problem of supervision caused by lack of commitment by not putting professional ethics over and above chasing of money but that the Ministry is committed to providing adequate supervision to all road constructions across the 36 states and the FCT.

 "If we are committed to public things, God will give you new ideas, if you are not committed to public things, you will not get new ideas “he said.

The Minister declared that the Ministry will partner with the Nigeria Society of Engineers in the supervision of all road projects across the country and encouraged NSE to improve on the professionalism by opening a training school, both in the North and  in the South one each, while he  pledged his support.

“We are going to partner with NSE in the supervision of all road projects and will also   emphasis the need for retraining schools across states. Engineering is wide, if you are a professional engineer, you will not have problem with professional ethics” he said.

Umahi maintained that the first job of Nigeria Society of Engineer is to bring discipline among members by setting standard for membership in the sense that if any action against the profession is committed, one can be disrobed noting that everyone cannot be an engineer.

“The first job of NSE is to bring discipline, you have to bring us under your leadership so if you hear that a member has committed fraud, you can disrobe him, and it is not everyone that will answer the name -Engineer” he said.

Nov

22

2023

REMARKS BY ARC. AHMED DANGIWA, HON MINISTER FOR HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT DURING THE COURTESY VISIT BY THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ADVOCACY NETWORK (HDAN) ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023

Protocols
1.    First, I’ll like to thank the entire leadership, and members of the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) for taking out time to pay me this courtesy visit.
2.    HDAN has been a part of my story at every turning point. I remember vividly the Special Agenda Setting Dinner that you organized for me at the Sheraton Hotels on August 24, 2023, shortly after my appointment.
3.    At the dinner, I took careful note of all the key points that were laid out by stakeholders at the event. This includes:
a.    The Absence of Credible, Scientific and Reliable Data to Guide Housing Policy Formulation and Implementation.
b.    Tackling the Prevalence of Building Collapses and the need to ensure quality of housing.
c.    The Need to study and implement Important Aspects of the National Housing Strategy Report co-sponsored by FMDQs earlier this year.
d.    Ensuring sustainable Development of urban and rural areas.
e.    Unlocking Affordable Housing Finance
f.    Improving access to land and easing title administration.
g.    Need to drive the nationwide adoption of model mortgage foreclosure law.
4.    It’s been over two months since that day, and I am happy to inform you that we have prioritized all these concerns in our actions over this time.
5.    On DATA, we are making progress. In our first month in office, we held a formal meeting with the National Population Commission to kickstart a strategic collaboration on housing data. We have set up a Ministry Taskforce that is actively working the Commission to design survey instruments that will help address housing-related questions during their upcoming population and housing census exercise.
6.    I am pleased to inform you all that from our technical sessions with the National Population Commission so far, we can say that the Census Survey Framework matches our needs, and the conduct of the next census will help to solve the housing data problem.
7.    We have gone further to write to Mr. President seeking his approval for the conduct of the census because of its significance to our objective of establishing the actual housing deficit.
8.    To ensure that housing agencies under the supervision of the Ministry are optimized to deliver on our target of providing affordable homes to Nigerians, we have composed a Housing Reform Team of experts, stakeholders – including HDAN representatives, agency representatives, professional bodies, and academia to develop a robust framework for reform of the housing sector including thorough review of relevant laws and facilitation of necessary legislative amendments. This includes the following:
a.    The Land Use Act, 1978
b.    National Housing Fund (NHF) Act,1992
c.    Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Establishment Act, 1993
d.    Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Act,1973
e.    PenCom Act to allow for increased investment in housing.
f.    Driving Nationwide adoption and passage of the foreclosure law in states.
9.    We have secured the consent and will be inaugurating the Team within the next two weeks with a mandate to deliver their reports within two months. It is important to say that we are not trying to re-invent the wheel but to build on EXISTING BODY KNOWLEDGE as I BELIEVE THERE ARE ONLY A FEW NEW IDEAS. What we have lacked over the years is the POLITICAL WILL to implement them.
10.    Therefore, the team will be tasked with streamlining all previous reform blueprints, whitepapers for the agencies and outlining areas requiring reform, with a focus on enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
11.    I believe that reforms and legislative amendments that the Reform Team will execute in collaboration with stakeholders and the National Assembly will be the most comprehensive set ever done in the history of housing and urban development in Nigeria.
12.    We are also working to implement the much-needed reforms that will ensure quick, easy, and efficient access to land. We have composed and secured Presidential consent to inaugurate a land reforms committee comprising state governments, traditional rulers, relevant agencies, professional bodies, academia, stakeholders to ensure buy-in and inclusivity.

13.    With their recommendations we will draft an Executive Bill and proceed to the National Assembly for the amendment of the obsolete Land Use Act 1978 that has hindered the development of the housing sector. In line with our policy of building on existing knowledge so we can move at a faster pace to deliver value, we invited and met with the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reforms. And I must say that it was a wise decision to do so. This is because we now have access to the comprehensive work they have done over the past 14 years on Land Reforms in our country. Immediately after the meeting we set up an Internal Ministerial Committee to review and recommend for inclusion in our land reforms strategy relevant parts of their recommendations. Part of this will be the establishment of the National Land Commission to spell out the guidelines and regulations for operationalizing the Land Use Act, 1978.

14.    On policy implementation we have called up and met with the FMDQs on the National Housing Strategy (NHS) that was launched in May this year. We have reviewed the document thoroughly towards identifying initiatives for inclusion in our plans for implementation.
15.    In line with the Renewed Hope plan to ensure that all Nigerians including the NO INCOME, vulnerable and underprivileged groups have access to decent and dignified accommodation, we are also creating the framework for the establishment of a National Social Housing Fund (NSHF). This is because we believe that access to decent shelter is a not only a necessity but a human right and that all Nigerians across all income segments deserve a decent home to live and grow.
16.    To lower the cost of building materials, we are also working to boost building materials manufacturing in the country. This will ensure economic growth, create jobs, and reduce dependency on imports. On this too, we have composed a Building Materials Manufacturing Task Team comprising of experts and representatives from relevant government agencies, academia, professional bodies, and industry associations. They will conduct a thorough assessment of the current state of the building materials manufacturing sector and produce a strategic plan for reforming the sector for implementation. We plan to inaugurate the Team very soon.
17.    To increase the stock of housing supply, we have also composed and will inaugurate a Multi-Agency Project Delivery Team. The Team will ensure that all housing agencies work together towards optimizing their strengths to deliver decent and affordable housing to Nigerians. The Team comprises highly qualified and experienced professionals with expertise in housing development, urban planning, infrastructure, finance, and project management.
18.    As you may have noticed, our Reform Agenda has many components. They range from slum/urban upgrading because we believe that not all Nigerians can afford the mortgages that even FMBN offers at single digit interest. So, our aim is to make the places they currently shelter in livable and habitable.
19.    Another component is affordable housing. Despite the tough macro-economic environment, there are still Nigerians who can afford to own a home via mortgages from the FMBN, FHA and even commercial mortgages. Our plan is to empower and support efforts of the agencies and our Ministry towards meeting this need.
20.    Our Renewed Hope Cities and Estates seek to deliver on this because they have inclusivity at their core. Phase 1 of the project aims to deliver 34,500 housing units ranging from 1,000 housing units per site in one location in each of the six geo-political zones of the country and FCT namely: Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Borno, Nasarawa, Rivers, and Enugu States. House types will include Multi-Level Flats to cater to low-medium income earners, Terrace and Detached Bungalows and Duplexes for the high-income earners. We ll also have Renewed Hope Estates of 500 housing units per site in each of the remaining thirty (30) States. House Types: 1,2- and 3-bedroom affordable bungalows.
21.    Sponsors will include Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development’s budgetary allocation, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), and through Public Private Partnerships with reputable developers. Ownership Options include Mortgage Loans, Rent-to-Own and Outright Purchase.
22.    Under Phase 1 of the Slum Upgrading Programme, the Ministry plans a total of 26 sites nationwide. This includes four (4) sites in each of the six regions of the country totaling twenty-four (24) and two (2) in the FCT. The key services to be provided at the identified sites will include water supply, solar streetlights, rehabilitation of access roads, construction of drainages and waste management and sanitation services amongst others.
23.    On the National Housing Programme, we are working on a comprehensive plan to ensure that all units are completed and off taken. Earlier this month we held a meeting with all the State Controllers on the matter. We also made physical visits to some of the sites here in Abuja. We have also set up a Ministerial Committee to review and rescope the contracts of the abandoned sites as appropriate. We will also assess both the technical and financial capacity of the contractors to ensure that we proceed with only those that are capable. Our goal at the end is to ensure that the government gets value for the investment in the National Housing Programme and that we also learn the lessons from its challenges. Under my watch, we will not experience those problems. We will ensure a demand driven approach, take care in siting planned housing estates in viable places where there is demand for offtake, ensure accessibility and infrastructure availability.
24.    I have been one of you and remain one of you. I know your passion for the housing sector, I know and understand the issues. I also know that you all mean well, and I am ready to work with all of you towards fixing these issues. I will continue to consult, and leverage the collective wealth of your expertise, knowledge of the industry and ideas and together we shall change the narrative for the good of our people.
25.    We encourage all members to feel free to send in memoranda regarding any of the policies that we have embarked on, or any progressive initiative that will help us move the sector forward. As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I am OPEN to ideas, initiatives and policies that will help us deliver affordable housing to Nigerians and build safer and more inclusive urban areas.
26.    Thank you once again for this visit and I look forward to working with you all.

Nov

22

2023

A Big Thank You to Brekete Family for the Words of Encouragement and Constructive Criticism to the Renewed Hope Administration of the Innovative President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

The truth is that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR means well for Nigeria. He is on a Divine mission to reinvent a nation of the dream of the founding fathers, where all Nigerians will be proud to be associated with.

The new innovations on road infrastructure introduced by the Federal Ministry of Works under Sen. Engr Nweze David Umahi, CON is among the numerous innovations initiated by Mr President to change the ugly narrative of our developmental history. This was what Mr President did when he   presided over Lagos as the 1st democratically elected Governor of Lagos State in the history of the 4th Republic. He made Lagos to be truly Africa’s Centre of Excellence. He broadened the economic prospects of Lagos State and since then Lagos has continued to prosper and to dominate as the largest commercial hub in Africa. Now Mr President is presiding over the most populous country in Africa, you all will see a positive change that will beat the estimation of leaders of African continent. He has the will, the experience, the exposure and the ingenuity to achieve excellence in Nigeria's social- economic history.

The cream of resolute Hon. Ministers  and the innovative policies of the Federal Government  under our dear President, especially the idea of looking inwards and thinking out of the box will do a lot in mitigating the forex  challenges, reduce capital flight, discourage corruption, create jobs and wealth for the teeming population, enhance export potentials, boost industrialization, reduce insecurity, increase our Gross Domestic Product, promote local content and prosper our nation.

This is the aspiration of Mr President. Concrete road initiative which was the original brainchild of our dear President when he presided over Lagos State will do a lot to change our narrative as we can be sure the new road policy is more enduring than the old system of asphalting which often fail and cause monumental pains to road users.

This is why the office of the Chief Press Secretary to the Hon. Minister of Works finds it progressively expedient to say a big thank you to the Brekete Family for supporting the road infrastructure initiative of our dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Nov

17

2023

Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Pays a Working Visit to The Hon. Minister Of Works, Umahi, Seeks Intervention On Road Infrastructure Challenges In Gombe State, North East

.... Says Umahi Has The Capacity To Solve Road Infrastructure Challenges In Nigeria

The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON today, 17th November, 2023 had a meeting in his office with the Governor of Gombe State, His Excellency, Muhammadu Yayaha Inuwa.

Though the details of his mission for visiting the Hon. Minister were not disclosed to the press, it was not unconnected with the desire of the State Governor to seek the Federal Government's intervention on the various road infrastructure challenges in Gombe State and Noth East.

During  his interview with the Press which was quite brief, the Governor of Gombe State said he was satisfied with the outcome of his meeting with the Hon Minister of Works and expressed confidence that with the capacity and ingenuity of the Hon. Minister, the people of his  State would  in no distant time breathe a sigh of relief on the conditions of the  Federal roads in their State    “ The Honourable Minister  is somebody that has the passion to see that Nigeria goes out of these challenges of infrastructure and economy,   I came to discuss issues in my own state especially the North East , he has already given a positive answer to  the issues  Our meeting is in affirmative and positive and I hope that very soon we shall overcome the problem of infrastructure in this country . I believe he has the passion and capacity and will be able to deliver on the needs of Nigeria. We are encouraging him, and he is encouraging us to ensure that Nigeria is out of the problems and I have got a positive assurance from him.”

Earlier, the Hon. Minister of Works shared his words of encouragement with the Governor and congratulated him for his passion to make a great difference in his State. The Hon. Minister also congratulated him on his successful re-election as Governor of Gombe State and for emerging as the Chairman of Northern Governors' Forum.

"I congratulate you for your successful re-election as Governor of Gombe State and your emergence as Chairman Northern Governors' Forum. I know you will bring to bare your wealth of experience and knowledge in tackling the developmental challenges not only in your State but also in North East. "

He assured that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is on course and is bringing on board lasting solution to the accumulated developmental challenges in Nigeria.

" The new policies on road construction and rehabilitation are robust and enduring. "The scope of intervention by Mr. President is holistic, and palliatives are underway to cater for the critical parts of our road infrastructure that need emergency attention".

Nov

16

2023

We Will Implement Historic Housing And Urban Development Reforms In Nigeria  -  Dangiwa

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has stated that the Housing Ministry under his leadership is exploring creative solutions and will also implement necessary reforms in order to rewrite the story of housing and urban development in the country.

The Minister made this known while delivering his keynote address on the 4th day of the 12th meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, held in Kaduna State.

" As part of endeavours to provide the right leadership as the focal driver of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bold vision of making housing a top priority for his government, giving its unique potential to catalyze economic growth, create jobs and lift millions out of poverty,  the Ministry’s goal is to implement the most historic housing and urban sector reforms ever witnessed in the Country, by driving initiatives that will create enabling environments for easier, safer, and profitable private sector investments in the sectors" he stated.

The Minister explained that Housing as one of the critical sectors set aside for focus under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is tied to Four key presidential priorities which are, Economic growth and Job creation, Access to capital, social inclusion or Inclusivity and Ending poverty.

According to him, the Four presidential priorities of Government underline the priorities of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development over the next four years, through a Reform of Federal Housing Institutions like the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Family Home Funds (FHF) and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), to enhance efficiency and capacity; Establishment of a National Social Housing Fund to cater to the housing needs of the NO INCOME, homeless and vulnerable groups; Review of the Land Use Act (1978) to streamline access to land; Establishment of a robust Mortgage Registry to facilitate property transactions and increased home ownership; Increasing housing supply, amongst others.

“The achievement of these targets would require an “All of Government” Approach and Actions that foster continuous engagement between Governments at all levels along with the private sector and relevant International Organizations operating in the Housing sector”, he added.

While noting that land reforms is a significant part of the housing sector reforms, Dangiwa disclosed a work in progress under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to establish a National Land Commission whose work would be partly to outline clear implementation guidelines for the Land Use Act to chart a new path of effective land administration in the country.

The Minister further disclosed readiness with Mr. President’s support to commence Phase 1 of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates which targets the delivery of 34,500 housing units of 1,2- and 3-bedroom affordable multi-level flats and bungalows for low-income earners, as well as high-end detached bungalows, terraces and duplexes for high income earners in Thirty States of the Federation.

For the Slum Upgrading Programme, he also disclosed the Ministry’s plans to upgrade 26 slums in the six regions of the Country, and the Federal Capital Territory, to improve the living standards of the slum residents and urban poor by providing key infrastructure and ancillary services.

“To ensure affordability for Nigerians we have already mapped out the following options which include Rent-to-Own, Public Rental, Mortgage Loans, and where applicable, outright sale”, he explained.

Speaking further, Dangiwa assured that the issue of financing housing development and urban infrastructure remains priority to the Ministry, and in this regard, he outlined some innovative financing and credit-driven approaches which could be exploited, such as Increasing the adoption of Public-Private Partnerships and similar Institutional arrangements, encouraging the growth of various Credit schemes, Housing Cooperatives and Rent-To-Own Schemes, increasing access to Multilateral/Bilateral, Pension Funds and Capital Market funding sources amongst others.

While appreciating the acceptance of the Kaduna State Government to host 12th Meeting of the Council despite a brief notice, Dangiwa praised the State for demonstrating exemplary leadership in housing development.

He informed that Kaduna was one of the first states in the country to adopt and pass into law the Model Mortgage Foreclosure Law (MMFL) which coordinates and   promotes housing investments and   mortgage development activities.

On the supply side, he pointed out that Kaduna State has implemented reforms in land administration, titling and registration, and also offered fiscal incentives, among others; and on the demand side, has developed single-digit interest rate mortgage arrangements with Sterling Bank, FHA Mortgage Bank and Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC).

“I am particularly impressed by the State’s Qatar Sanabil Project, which aims to deliver about 500,000 housing units. This is a laudable feat and testament to the business-friendly environment of Kaduna State that is worthy of emulation”, he expressed.

He commended the high rise in the revenue generation of the State as a result of these achievements, to over ₦44billion per annum despite the lack of amendments to the Land Use Act.

In his opening Address, the guest of honour, the executive Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani represented by the Honourable Commissioner of the Kaduna State Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Hon. Aminu Abdullahi Shagali, informed that Kaduna State Government in its effort to increase the housing stock came up with a direct Construction of 624 affordable housing units of 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom houses in four locations of the State, the Construction of a total of 222 houses of 1, 2, 3, 4 bedrooms terraces as well duplexes, directly and through partnership.

He added that the state was on partnership with 52 developers to provide between 20,000 and 30,000 houses which is at about 50% completion, provision of plots by the Kaduna Geographic Information System (KADGIS) to citizens, through the sites and services process so that individuals can build their own houses, amongst others.

The Governor further expressed the willingness of the State to continue in partnership with the Federal Government to facilitate the provision of decent and affordable Houses to Nigerians, while also welcoming investors to the State.

In his goodwill message, the chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Aminu Tambuwal Lauded the aptness of the theme for this year’s Council Meeting which is "HARNESSING LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL CREDIT SCHEME AS A PANACEA FOR HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE RENEWED HOPE AGENDA” , pointing out that positive progress cannot not be made in the Housing and Urban Development Sector without funds.

While acknowledging that sourcing funds was a difficult one, He noted that it was not unconquerable giving that construction in housing is a major way of redistributing wealth and should be encouraged.

Tambuwal further assured of the support of the National Assembly in realizing the outcomes of the Council’s decisions.

Nov

15

2023

FG Receives Brief on Lagos/ Abidjan Highway Construction.

The Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. Nwaeze David Umahi has been briefed on the ongoing construction of the Lagos – Abidjan Highway initiated by Heads of States and Government of five ECOWAS Member States.

This took place at the Minister’s office. The ECOWAS delegation led by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization Engr. Sediko Douka took place recently in Abuja.

The Minister said that for ease of work and speedy completion, the highway project should have processes for its achievement like sectioning the project, considering the peculiarities of the areas across the corridor and also noting that some areas might be viable while some may not be.

“I think for ease of work and speedy completion, the project should be sectioned and put a process in place to make the project achievable because some section might be viable while some other sections might not be” he said.

Umahi underscores the importance of the highway project saying that the road project would propel rapid integration of the region, boast commercial activities, and improve social development among member states.

Umahi also advocated for the use of concrete pavement on the Nigerian corridor noting that there are a lot of advantages using concrete in road construction without having issues of portholes or washout, concrete roads have a longer lifespan, it can withstand heavy traffic loads, low maintenance, less affected by temperature fluctuations and that this has been adopted by the Nigerian government.

“A lot of advantages to use concrete to construct roads, concrete roads last longer compared to asphalt roads reducing the need for frequent repairs and maintenance, it’s stronger and can withstand heavy traffic loads, it also has low maintenance, and this has been adopted by the Nigerian government” he said.

Umahi said that while adapting to feasibility result and technical studies, Nigeria would fast track the completion of her own section of the highway describing it as laudable and would enhance rapid growth.

“We should fast track the completion of our own section following the feasibility result and technical studies and design.  A laudable project for rapid growth and development.

Earlier in his remarks, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Mr. Sediko Douka thanked the Minister for granting them audience.  He noted that Africa’s economic integration is hampered by large deficits in its transportation infrastructure and thus the 2050 ECOWAS vision seek to enhance infrastructure development recognized as a factor for economic growth and integration of people that will greatly contribute to the creation of a regional environment favorable to the free movement of people and goods.

He said the 1,028 km road project was initiated by the Heads of States and Government of the Corridor Member States namely: Benin 128km, Cote d’Ivoire 155km, Ghana 576km, Nigeria 79.5km and Togo 89.2km in Yamoussoukro, Cote D’Ivoire on 28th February 2013.

He added that the steering committee of the project is made up of the Ministers of Work of Corridor Member States and commissioner for Infrastructure of the ECOWAS Commission and the Minister is automatically a member.  Their role, he said is to provide oversight guidance for the implementation of the project and each of the Minister’s reports back to their respective Head of Government.

Also speaking, the Director Infrastructure Department, ECOWAS, Engr, Malik Ashoke revealed that the link bridge between Nigeria and Cameroon has been completed and commissioned, nevertheless scanning machine and weigh bridges are yet to be put in place, and are therefore requesting that the Nigerian Minister of Works may graciously aid in obtaining  FG directive for ease of clearance of the equipment from the wharf.

Nov

15

2023

REMARKS BY THE PERMANENT SECETARY, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING, MAHMUD MAMMAN AT THE 12TH MEETING OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON LANDS, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT HOLDING AT UMARU MUSA YAR’ADUA CONFERENCE CENTRE, KADUNA, KADUNA STATE FROM MONDAY 13TH TO FRIDAY, 17TH NOVEMBER,2023.

Protocols

I am pleased to welcome you to the 12th meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing And Urban Development holding at Kaduna, Kaduna State.

2.    As you are aware, the theme of this year’s National Council Meeting is “Harnessing Local and International Credit Scheme as a panacea for Housing Infrastructure Development under the Renewed Hope Mantra”. The theme is apt and timely, considering the Renewed Hope Agenda and drive toward addressing housing deficit and maximizing available opportunities in ensuring that a greater number of Nigerians have a place to call a home. As a collective resolve to address this perennial challenge in Housing infrastructure development, exploring both Local and International prospects is inevitable.

3.     In order to ensure that housing challenges are addressed, it has become necessary for all the crucial stakeholders to consider and provide contemprorary policies that will support the exploration and assessment of Local and International funds.

4.      It is quite instructive that the theme was carefully chosen to ensure that both Local and International Credit are assessed to complement direct Government effort in providing Housing for Nigerians.

5.      The Meeting is significant as it will afford us the desired opportunity to identify some of the challenges in assessing Local and International credits for Housing Infrastructure and discuss strategies towards addressing them. We are required to look at the best ways to explore and assess funds needed for massive deployment of housing infrastructure so as to galvanize national growth and sustainable Development Goals which focuses on restoring economic growth, mass housing, investing in our people and creating a people friendly economy. The achievement of these objectives largely lies on the availability of affordable and sustainable Housing across the country.

6.     Distinguished delegates and officials, the timing of this meeting, therefore, is very significant as it provides a variable platform for us heads of Bureaucracy in our various States to think through and make necessary provisions for Housing in our various Budgets for the year 2024 and beyond as well as developing frameworks for harnessing Local and International funds for mass and affordable Housing which will impact positively on Nigerians and the economy.

7.    On this note, I once again, welcome you all to this 12th Meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Develeopment and wish you fruitful deliberations.

8.      Thank you.

Nov

13

2023

SPEECH BY THE DIRECTOR, PLANNING, RESEARCH AND STATISTICS, FEDERAL MINSTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING, MR. KOLAPO RAHEEM, AT THE TECHNICAL SESSION OF THE 12TH MEETING OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON LANDS, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, HELD AT UMARU MUSA YAR’DUA CONFERENCE CENTRE, KADUNA, KADUNA STATE FROM MONDAY, 13TH TO FRIDAY, 17TH NOVEMBER, 2023
 

PROTOCOLS

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 12th Meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development holding in Kaduna, Kaduna State with the theme, “Harnessing Local and International Credit Scheme as a Panacea for Housing Infrastructure Development under the Renewed Hope Mantra.”

2.    The theme of this year’s Meeting, no doubt was chosen in consideration of the dire need to galvanize domestic and foreign fund towards meeting the nation’s Housing challenges and enhancement of the country’s overall economic growth and development.

3.    As you are aware, the Council Meeting commences with a 2- day Technical Session of the Directors, Heads of Agencies and Professional Bodies in the built industry, where memoranda submitted by stakeholders are summarized for consideration by the Permanent Secretaries on the 3rd day being 15th November, 2023. The Permanent Secretaries’ summations are thereafter presented to the main Council at its meeting on Thursday, 16th November, 2023 for final consideration and approval.

4.    Distinguished delegates and officials, in the spirit of the present Administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda on all sectors of the economy, an in particular the Housing and Urban Development sub sectors, I urge you to explicate your professionalism in the course of deliberations to guide policy formulation that will facilitate affordable housing delivery for all.

5.    Finally, I wish to express my appreciations to the Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani for the support of Kaduna State Government, the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Architect Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, Honourable Minister of State for Housing, Engr. Abdullahi T. Gwarzo, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Alh. M. Mamman, for providing the enabling environment for the success of this meeting. I also express my gratitude to all Directors, Kaduna State Local Organising Committee and the entire Staff of the Ministry whose collective efforts have made this meeting possible.

6.      Once again, I welcome you all and wish you fruitful deliberations.

7.    Thank you.

Nov

10

2023

Federal Government Commences Work at The Collapsed Bridge at New Artisan Flyover Enugu/Ph Expressway, Enugu State

1. The Federal Government has approved the immediate commencement of palliative works at the collapsed bridge at New Artisan Flyover/NNPC Mega Station along Enugu/PH Expressway , Enugu State. This was contained in a statement made by the Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi during his inspection visit to the collapsed bridge on this 9th day of November,2023. He directed the immediate take- off of the palliatives and hoped that in the next 10 days one lane of the bridge would be reinforced so that road users can start making use of the road "The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sen Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR has also through the 2023 Supplementary  Appropriation released some money that we can use to start the rebuilding of these two bridges and other bridges by the depot and also a flyover by that 
location".

2. The Hon. Minister of Works reiterated the determination of Mr President in bringing immediate intervention to the dilapidated road infrastructure across the nation and assured the government and people of Enugu State of having a fair share of the approved interventions by Mr President. "Mr President has released money for palliatives for over 260 roads across the 36 States of the Federation and FCT."

3. While appreciating the leadership will of the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah in turning around the economic development prospects of the State and his support for the good leadership of Mr President, he assured him of the partnership of the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in rejigging the road infrastructure of Enugu State. " I know the Governor is very eager to build that Federal Road and he has concluded the design, and he is going to start soon. While he is doing that, we will do the flyover  and some road works to complement the work he is doing on that Federal road" The Hon. Minister assured Nigerians of even spread of the palliative works on our road infrastructure and in doing so would ensure that all such palliative works are designed and quantified and the State Governors through their Commissioners for Works would be involved. "They would help in monitoring the works to be done and would always sign off the sheets before contractors are paid".

4. Earlier, the Governor of Enugu State thanked the Hon. Minister of Works for the interest, passion and speed with which the Ministry had attended to the challenge posed by the collapsed bridge." As you know, the last time we came here the Hon. Minister was also here to inspect and to identify areas of quick intervention and I am happy now to announce to you that the Hon.  Minister has come here to inform us again that work is going to commence here tomorrow."

Dec

02

2023

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE HON. MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AT THE 20TH EDITION OF MORTGAGE BANKING SUB-SECTOR CEO’S ANNUAL RETREAT AT THE TRANSCORP HILTON, ABUJA, ON SATURDAY, 2ND DECEMBER 2023

Protocols
1.    First, I would like to commend the leadership of the Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN) for sustaining this Annual CEO Retreat.
2.    Each year this Retreat provides a platform for CEOs of Mortgage Banks, Mortgage Brokerage Companies, Statutory Regulatory Bodies, Federal and State Governments/Policy Makers and other housing industry stakeholders to gather, network, share experiences, discuss sector challenges to produce clear recommendations that border on effective housing delivery in the country.
3.    These Retreats are important because they help in the cross pollination of industry experiences, ideas, and knowledge critical to sharpening government policy on sustainable housing delivery in our dear country.
4.    This 2023 edition is the 20th in the series, and I am happy to be here to address you for the first time as the Minister of Housing and Urban Development.
5.    However, I am pained to note that the same problems that have been militating against the growth of housing finance, mortgage adoption and housing delivery in this country and have been the points of discussion at every one of the previous 19 editions are the same ones that still plague the sector today.  
6.    While preparing for this Keynote Address, I recalled a paper titled “Mortgage Banking/Housing Finance Sector in Nigeria: Past, Present and Future” presented by the former MBAN Executive Secretary, Mr. Kayode Omotosho in 2011 – 12 years ago. That was years before I became the MD/CEO of FMBN in 2017 and began attending these Retreats.
7.    In the paper he listed the following as the major constraints bedeviling the industry and I quote:
•    Affordability gap in home ownership
•    Dearth of long-Term Funds
•    Critical Need for Enhanced Capital and Resource Base of Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs) and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN)
•    Difficulty in accessing Land and secure title to Land due to the shortcomings in the provision and implementation of the Land Use Act of 1978.
•    Inadequate Legal Framework
•    Inadequate Housing Infrastructure
•    Inadequate incentives, concessions and taxes and non-availability of insurance Framework
•    Insufficient production and high cost of building materials as well as inadequate skilled labour.
•    The critical need to significantly grow the contribution of the entire Mortgage Banking/ Housing Finance Sector to the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which was put at 0.38%, compared to other Countries such as South Africa and Malaysia with an average rate of 40%.
Mr. Kayode in that paper went on to list the following key success factors. First was expedited action to review mortgage related laws. This includes:
•    The Land Use Act 1978
•    The National Housing Fund Act 1992
•    The Mortgage Institutions Act 1989
•    The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Act 1993
•    The Trustee Investments Act 1962
•    The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Act 1993
•    The Insurance Act 2002
•    The Investments and Securities Act 1999
•    The Federal Housing Authority Act 1990
•    Securitization Bill
•    Foreclosure Laws Bill (Residential Mortgages Act & Residential Mortgages (Incentives) Act
•    Others included the need to reduce cost of title perfection, improving access to long-term funds, computerization of land registry offices, capitalization of Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).

8.    Now, fast forward to 2023, and you will agree with me that not much has changed. Most of these problems are still with us. The National Housing Strategy Report developed in collaboration with FMDQs and launched by the previous administration cited just about the same problems. The report lists land, infrastructure deficit, high housing construction cost, household demand (which means the ability to pay and willingness to pay), and lack of affordable housing financing options.

9.    It is therefore against the backdrop of these recurring conversations and growing industry challenges that the theme for this year’s Retreat “Advancing Sustainable and Affordable Housing in Nigeria: Navigating Macro-Economic, Legislative, and Policy Frontiers” is so apt.

10.    This is because the theme emphasizes the need for all players to find ways to NAVIGATE the macro, legal and policy bottlenecks. This speaks to the need for innovation. It speaks to the need for creativity. And it speaks to the need for effective leadership at every point in the value chain. This is because leaders are supposed to make progress despite challenges. Leaders are supposed to navigate the complexities of situations to make progress.

11.    I make bold to say that even in the midst of these persistent challenges, it is possible to make progress. As the MD/CEO of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, we were able to innovate despite challenges to post results in five years that surpassed the 25-years before we came on board.

12.    I am well aware that the cost of funds is a major macro-economic issue that has made the interest rate on commercial mortgages so high, thereby affecting affordability. This is an issue that reflects the state of the national economy and I want to assure you that the Renewed Hope Vision of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is particular about growing the economy and creating a more friendly environment that would support the growth of the sector.

13.    So, while the government works to fix this macro-economic challenge, I still believe that as CEOs of mortgage banks, you can still find creative ways to develop innovative mortgage products that are responsive to the current state of Nigeria’s economic situation. This includes adopting rent to own mortgage options, flexible monthly mortgage loan repayments to make commercial loans more affordable.

14.    I note with concern that the Capital Market has not been maximally tapped to raise long term funds to refinance mortgage loans and to explore more creative ways to make mortgages more affordable even as we work to fix the larger macro-economic problems. As leaders, we must not only see provision of housing and home loans from a business and profit motive, but also see expanding access to affordable mortgages as a moral imperative. So, we must do all we can even in these difficult times to ensure that not only the elites, but Nigerians within the low- and medium-income segments have access to affordable mortgages.
15.    On the government side, the message that I bring from His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is that he is ready to break the jinx of macro-economic, legislative and policy issues that have held down the growth of effective housing delivery in our country. He is ready to work with all stakeholders including MBAN to implement a holistic housing reform program to chart a new, progressive, and innovative path forward for the mortgage sector.
16.    Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, our goal is to ensure that as years go by, we are systematically tackling all these persistent issues and consigning them into the annals of history so that we can ensure increased access to affordable housing for Nigerians.
17.    As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development we aim to implement the most historic housing sector reforms the country has ever witnessed.
18.    A notable part is the implementation of comprehensive land reforms towards streamlining land administration and ensuring easy, cost effective and efficient access to land in our country.
19.    We have composed and secured Presidential consent to inaugurate a land reforms team comprising state governments, traditional rulers, relevant agencies, professional bodies, academia, industry experts to ensure buy-in and inclusivity.
20.    With their recommendations we will draft an Executive Bill and proceed to the National Assembly for the amendment of the obsolete Land Use Act 1978 that has hindered the development of the housing sector.
21.    In line with our policy of building on existing knowledge so we can move at a faster pace to deliver value, we recently invited and met with the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reforms. And I must say that it was a wise decision to do so. This is because we now have access to the comprehensive work, they have done over the past 14 years on Land Reforms in our country. Immediately after the meeting we set up an Internal Ministerial Committee to review and recommend for inclusion in our land reforms strategy relevant parts of their recommendations. Part of this will be the establishment of the National Land Commission to spell out the guidelines and regulations for operationalizing the Land Use Act, 1978.
22.    Currently, we have a situation where the Land Use Act was enacted but there was no complementary institution set up alongside it to provide the necessary framework, guidelines, and regulations for operationalizing it.
23.    This will improve land titling and boost Nigeria’s ranking on the World Bank Ease of Doing Business where we currently rank 186th out of 190 countries.
24.    The second related reform is the nationwide adoption of the Model Mortgage Foreclosure Law. The law is a housing industry stakeholder initiative that is focused on establishing an enabling environment for investment in real estate and the growth of mortgages. It provides contemporary provisions on the creation, registration, and enforcement. I must recognize and commend the critical role that MBAN has played in this regard.
25.    As of date, the Model Mortgage Foreclosure Law (MMFL) has been passed in only four (4) States, including Lagos, Kaduna, Ekiti, and Nasarawa States. We aim to drive its passage in all the states of the federation as part of the efforts to ensure that investments in the housing and mortgage sector are protected.
26.    We have also composed and secured presidential consent to inaugurate a Housing Institutions’ Reform Team comprising relevant agencies of Government, Professional/Regulatory Bodies, Academia, and Industry Experts to review some aspects of the existing laws listed below to align them with contemporary realities.
•    The Land Use Act, 1978.
•    National Housing Fund (NHF) Act, 1992.
•    Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Establishment Act, 1993.
•    Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Act 1973.
•    PenCom Act (to allow for increased investment in housing development); and
27.    I am happy to say MBAN has been included in the membership of our Reform Teams.
28.    The reforms and legislative amendments that the Housing Institution’s Reform Team will execute in collaboration with stakeholders and the National Assembly will be the most comprehensive set ever done in the history of Housing and Urban Development in Nigeria.
29.    We are also working to boost building materials manufacturing in the country. This will ensure economic growth, create jobs, and reduce dependency on imports. On this too, we have composed a Building Materials Manufacturing Task Team comprising of experts and representatives from relevant government agencies, academia, professional bodies, and industry experts. They will conduct a thorough assessment of the current state of the building materials manufacturing sector and produce a strategic reform plan for implementation.  
30.    To increase the stock of housing supply, we have also composed and will inaugurate a Multi-Agency Project Delivery Team. The Team will ensure that all housing agencies work together towards optimizing their capacities to deliver decent and affordable housing to Nigerians. It comprises highly qualified and experienced professionals with expertise in housing development, urban planning, infrastructure, finance, and project management.
31.    Our Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Program seeks to deliver 40,000 housing units ranging from 1,000 housing units per site in one location in each of the six geo-political zones of the country and FCT namely: Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Borno, Nasarawa, Rivers, and Enugu States. House types will include Multi-Level Flats to cater to low-medium income earners, Terrace and Detached Bungalows and Duplexes for the high-income earners. We will also have Renewed Hope Estates of 500 housing units per site in each of the remaining thirty (30) States. House Types include 1,2- and 3-bedroom affordable units.
32.    The projects will be financed by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development’s budgetary allocation, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), and majorly through Public Private Partnerships with reputable developers. Ownership Options include Mortgage Loans, Rent-to-Own and Outright Purchase.
33.    We are also working to comprehensively upgrade our slums and embark on urban renewal. Under Phase 1 of the Slum Upgrading Programme, the Ministry plans a total of 26 sites nationwide. This includes four (4) sites in each of the six regions of the country totaling twenty-four (24) and two (2) in the FCT. The key services to be provided at the identified sites will include water supply, solar streetlights, rehabilitation of access roads, construction of drainages and waste management and sanitation services amongst others.
34.    It is important for me state that MBAN will be part of the offtake solution for these housing units at two levels. One as partner banks to the FMBN as retail outlets for NHF loans and as a partner to explore other commercial mortgage financing options especially through the capital market.

35.    Like I said earlier, as the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I will continue to work closely with MBAN towards ensuring that all the issues that affect the development of the sector receive the highest consideration and treatment. I look forward to receiving the communique on the important resolutions and recommendations from this Annual Retreat for review and possible inclusion in our housing reform strategy.

36.    Together we can make progress. Together we can break barriers and unleash the potential of the housing market for economic and social transformation in Nigeria.

37.    I wish you all fruitful deliberations.

38.    Thank you.

Dec

01

2023

Road Infrastructure Revolution is at the Front Burner of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen.  Engr.  Nweze David Umahi has reiterated the determination of the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in fixing the ailing road infrastructure across the nation. He stated this when the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and the newly elected Governor of the State Ahmed Usman Ododo visited him in his office at the Ministry's Headquarters, Abuja on Thursday, 30th November 2023.

The Hon. Minister of Works stated that the President's intervention on the road infrastructure deficit in the country was part of his roadmap towards revamping the economy of the nation. He thanked the Governor for the will to seek Federal Government's intervention on the road infrastructure challenges in his State and the passion to work for the good of the State.

‘We inspected the road from 11am on my first day in office and I got back to Abuja by 2am, it shows the passion you have for the State.  It is not by chance that my first working day was in Kogi State, and I saw the acceptability and show of true love among the villagers for you. Your people are people of gratitude. I remember the ovation that greeted our inspection visit to Murtala Muhammed Way bridge in Kogi State".

The Hon. Minister assured the Governor that the Kogi Federal Highway was part of the Federal roads listed for palliative intervention by Mr. President.

" I want to assure you that Mr. President has instructed our Ministry to go and start that portion of the road and you will soon see a lot of concrete structures on a number of sections of that road that are challenged”.

The Hon. Minister also thanked the Governor for his commitment to the ideals of All Progressives Congress (APC) and for his doggedness that saw the Party through in the recently concluded Governorship election in Kogi State and said the victory was a testimony of the good works of the Governor and the acceptability of the ruling Party by the people of the State. He praised the Governor for his sense of inclusiveness and nationalism in his affairs as Governor of Kogi State.

"I thank you for being nationalistic  I know  a lot of South Easterners  that have made your Cabinet, I  also know a lot of people that had security challenges; that were kidnapped far away but you helped in rescuing them  even across State”.

The Hon. Minister used the opportunity to congratulate the Governor- Elect and charged him to be magnanimous with victory, cultivate leadership virtues, remember his route and remain steadfast with his Party. “Every young man entering a very high position like this is open to a lot of temptations. One admonition that guides me which I will share with you today is the fact that anyone who pays evil for the good done onto him, evil will not depart from his house. He continued “the teeth and the tongue often have misunderstanding, but they live together, the Governor made a lot of enemies because of you, let these enemies reconcile with him through you, all what the Governor looks for from you is not money or position, all he looks for is respect and honour because to whom God has honoured man must honour the person.  Mr. President has suffered all kinds of betrayals and if you have suffered betrayal, you would feel it, and when Mr. President sees a man that is on the part of betraying another, he will not be happy with such a person.  If you follow the Governor, he will guide you. If he trusted you to enthrone you, who else will he now trust again.   He is a unique man, and he is a man to emulate.”

Earlier the Kogi State Governor extolled the Hon. Minister for the transformation and innovation he has brought on board to accomplish the Renewed Hope road infrastructure agenda of Mr. President and the extra-ordinary passion with which he follows Mr. President's directives on road revolution. “The very first day you resumed office that was the day you hit the ground running. You have been inspecting roads ever since then you are not resting, there was no budget, no money for you, yet we see work going on across the country. Contractors have returned to site.  Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is working, you are also responding to calls and messages, and you are so responsive, you are a leader that all of us are proud of.”

The Governor further said “I am here to principally show an appreciation to God Almighty and to show appreciation to my wonderful brother His Excellency Distinguished Senator David Umahi the former Governor of Ebonyi State and Minister of Works for all the assistance he rendered to us physically, spiritually, financially and in fact in every way.  I am introducing my next successor Hon. Ahmed Ododo to His Excellency.  Ever since I joined the club of Governors you have been so distinguished.  I came in as APC Governor, you were PDP Governor then, irrespective of our political parties, you proved to be an elder statesman. You are a politician, but you are an elder statesman. You are always uniting the Governors across party line that was why it was easy for me to predict that you were going to join us because your mind is progressive; your mind is always progressive that was why you were able to govern Ebonyi State. With the little and meagre resources, you turned the State around and Ebonyi is wearing a new look today.  You mentor leaders that is why it is not surprising the assistance I received from you in coming up with another leader to take over from me in Kogi State.”

The Governor continued, “Today you are in the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a Minister of Works with his Renewed Hope agenda, we are saying a very big thank you to you and may the good Lord protect you in the discharge of your responsibility as the Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria"

Nov

30

2023

REMARKS BY THE HON. MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ARC. AHMED MUSA DANGIWA AT THE GROUNDBREAKING OF A 480 HOUSING UNIT PROJECT BY CITYGATE HOMES IN ABUJA ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Protocols
1.    Good morning, ladies, and gentlemen,
2.    It is with pleasure that I stand before you today on this occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony of the remarkable 480-housing unit project by Citygate Homes here in the heart of Abuja. This groundbreaking event marks a significant contribution to our ongoing efforts to address the pressing need for adequate housing in our country.
3.    Housing is not merely a fundamental human need; it is the cornerstone upon which stable communities and vibrant societies are built. The provision of decent housing stands as a testament to a government's commitment to the welfare and well-being of its citizens. Today's groundbreaking ceremony is a testament to that commitment.
4.    The initiative taken by Citygate Homes aligns perfectly with the government's vision for sustainable urban development. This project embodies the collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors, showcasing how partnerships can drive impactful change and contribute to the growth and development of our nation.
5.    In a rapidly growing city like Abuja, the demand for housing has surged, and it is our collective responsibility to respond to this need. I commend Citygate Homes for their dedication and investment in this endeavor. This housing project will not only provide shelter but will also create job opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and contribute significantly to the enhancement of the local community.
6.    Furthermore, I want to emphasize the importance of sustainability and inclusivity in urban development. As we move forward, it is imperative that our housing projects incorporate eco-friendly designs, embrace technological advancements, and cater to the diverse needs of our society, including the low- and medium-income earners.
7.    In this regard, I will request that the Management of City Gate Homes earmark a certain percentage of the 480-homes as affordable housing with price tags that average Nigerians can afford to buy.
8.    As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I am an advocate of affordable housing with the focus on the average Nigerian worker, who are indeed, the majority.
9.    However, I recognize that all Nigerians across all income segments desire access to decent housing and must applaud City Gate for tapping into this market segment. The approach that we are promoting at the Ministry is building integrated communities with housing types that reflect the diverse income segments of our society using cross subsidies. This way we aim to sell high-end homes at market rates and deploy the profits towards subsidizing the units for low and medium income households. This enhances inclusivity.
10.    I therefore urge all stakeholders involved in this project to ensure adherence to the highest standards of quality, timely execution, and transparency throughout its development phases. Let us work together to make these 480 housing units a reality, ensuring they become homes that foster happiness, security, and a sense of belonging for the families who will reside here.
11.    In closing, I want to commend the Management of Citygate Homes for their dedication to the task of housing Nigerians and to everyone present today for their support. Together, let us continue to strive towards building a future where every citizen has access to affordable and dignified housing.

12.    Thank you.

Nov

29

2023

Ministry to Partner IOD Centre for Corporate Governance on Staff Training and Capacity Building

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is set to enter into collaboration with the Institute of Directors’ Centre for Corporate Governance to provide training and capacity building for its staff. The move is intended to optimise the processes of both the Ministry and its agencies and bolster their outlook by entrenching professionalism and enhancing their corporate governance.

This was revealed by the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa during a courtesy visit by the institute to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa at his office in the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. The Minister underscored the important role the institute plays in enhancing professionalism in the workplace, promoting good governance practices, and boosting performance across sectors.

“We would leverage your capacities and resources to boost professionalism and effective leadership at all levels within the Ministry and Agencies towards powering our Action Plan for Housing and Urban Development. We hope that we can do this through periodic retreats, seminars, brainstorming sessions to empower our professionals with the right leadership techniques.

“In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we intend to build a Ministry of Housing and Urban Development that embraces the performance-driven culture of the private sector so that we can more effectively deliver homes and livable communities for Nigerians,” he said.

Dangiwa noted that the most important resource in any establishment is the human resource, and all personnel must be empowered with the requisite skillsets, mentality, and attitude to bring about positive change and transformation. He added that the IoD is a trusted resource that has been instrumental in boosting efficiency for optimal performance across organisations in Nigeria.

“The ideals that the Center promotes align seamlessly with the fundamental principles that underpin effective and responsible leadership. This includes Integrity, Meritocracy, Professionalism, Accountability and Probity, Customer Centricity and Teamwork. I recall that as the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) IoD was a strong partner and insightful resource during the series of Board/Management Retreats and Capacity Building/Training programs that we carried out.

“During these sessions we sought to build a new culture of high performance that delivers results even while confronting systemic and institutional bottlenecks. I believe that the robust contributions and input from IoD helped to bring clarity to our initiatives and increase staff capacity. All these resulted in the historic performance that I was able to lead the Management to record within our five years at the Bank. I am proud to say that what we achieved in five years at FMBN was far more than what previous managements had achieved in 25 years before we came on board,” he said.

On his part, leader of the delegation and Chairman, Board of Governors of the Institute, Urum Eke noted that the purpose of the visit was to offer useful tools to the Ministry and seek the Minister’s intervention in ensuring that agencies such as the FMBN and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) take advantage of their expertise to position themselves for growth.

“It is clear to us that, with respect to housing and urban development, government does not have the wherewithal to do the massive work that is needed. What that means is that you’ll certainly be doing more of Public-Private Partnerships. However, no private sector partner will put his money in a parastatal, agency or company where there is no strong corporate governance; that is clear. Corporate governance is at the root of corporate performance, so we want to urge you to prevail on the agencies under the Ministry to take advantage of what we offer” he said.

Nov

28

2023

REMARKS BY THE HON. MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ARC. AHMED MUSA DANGIWA AT THE MEETING WITH THE INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS (IoD) AT THE MINISTRY’S HEAD OFFICE IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

Protocols
1.    First, I would like to thank the Board of Governor led by Mr. U.K. Eke, MFR, FIoD of the IoD Center for Corporate Governance for paying me this courtesy visit.
2.    I am a very proud member of the Center, so I know and acknowledge the good and important work that you are doing in promoting good governance practices in Nigerian companies and the Public Sector.
3.    The ideals that the Center promotes align seamlessly with the fundamental principles that underpin effective and responsible leadership. This includes Integrity, Meritocracy, Professionalism, Accountability and Probity, Customer Centricity and Teamwork.
4.    I recall that as the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) IoD was a strong partner and insightful resource during the series of Board/Management Retreats and Capacity Building/Training programs that we carried out.
5.    During these sessions we sought to build a new culture of high performance that delivers results even while confronting systemic and institutional bottlenecks.
6.    I believe that the robust contributions and input from IoD helped to bring clarity to our initiatives and increase staff capacity. All these resulted in the historic performance that I was able to lead the Management to record within our five years at the Bank.
7.    I am proud to say that what we achieved in five years at FMBN was far more than what previous managements had achieved in 25 years before we came on board.
8.    As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I plan to continue this collaboration with IoD.
9.    Fortunately, the FMBN is under the supervision of our Ministry, so we are going to promote and encourage that engagement. We will do the same for the Federal Housing Authority.
10.    We would leverage your capacities and resources to boost professionalism and effective leadership at all levels within the Ministry and Agencies towards powering our Action Plan for Housing and Urban Development.
11.    We hope that we can do this through periodic retreats, seminars, brainstorming sessions to empower our professionals with the right leadership techniques.
12.    In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we intend to build a Ministry of Housing and Urban Development that embraces the performance-driven culture of the private sector so that we can more effectively deliver homes and livable communities for Nigerians.
13.    I acknowledge the challenges and past failed attempts in the housing sector. But I am hopeful that by leveraging the wealth of expertise of groups such as the IoD Center for Corporate Governance, and the cooperation of our Directors and Ministry staff, we shall deliver the Renewed Hope vision of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the housing and urban development sectors.
14.    Thank you all for your attention.

Nov

27

2023

Road Infrastructure Revolution Nationwide has Started, Courtesy of the Renewed Hope Administration of Mr President. Read to Know Your Role

1. The attention of the Federal Ministry of Works has been drawn to the concerns of the public on the deplorable situations of some sections of the Federal roads throughout the Federation as reported in many media platforms, especially social media, the front page, pages 4,5,6 and 14 of the publication of Sun Newspaper of 26th November, 2023. Most of the sections of the roads frequently reported but definitely not exhaustive are: the Makurdi-Nsukka 9th Mile Road, East West Road, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Benin bypass road, collapsed bridges of Enugu- Port Harcourt road, collapsed bridges of Shandam-Plateau State, Abuja-Kaduna- Zaria-Kano road and Gombe- Bauchi etc. 

2. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is aware of the state of our road infrastructure which he inherited on the 29th day of May 2023. Without prejudice to all the good efforts of the past administration on road infrastructure development which they tackled within the limit of their resources, the work to be done to change the ugly state of our roads is quite enormous.

3.  Mr. President is not complaining of the challenges he inherited in nearly all sectors of the economy, especially as it concerns our road infrastructure, but he is quite courageous as he had promised to tackle the problems head-on which he has started to do not minding the debt burden inherited especially the funding gap of over Six Trillion Naira (₦6T) from most of the inherited on-going road projects.

4. Mr. President has since reeled out plans of commitment, consistence, and innovations towards actualizing a sustainable road infrastructure development throughout the country. He has just approved a 2023 Supplementary budget of Three Hundred Billion Naira (₦300B) for the Ministry of Works comprising of One Hundred Billion Naira (₦100B) for immediate palliative works in 36 States and FCT and Two Hundred Billion Naira (₦200B) for continuation of most of the inherited ongoing projects and very few new but critical road projects.

5. Mr. President has directed that works in those palliative projects must commence before 1st December 2023, while observing all due process. On the sections being frequently complained of by the public in all regions of the North and South of the country, Mr. President has equally isolated them and directed immediate actions on them and indeed work has started on all such roads. The public can crosscheck our claims and report back to us.

6. The engagements of the Federal Ministry of Works will not be limited to these isolated reported cases but shall be holistic in our approach through these approved palliative measures and the interventions of FERMA in all the 36 States and FCT also.

7.  The public is hereby requested to assist the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA by supervising the contractors that will be engaged in these palliative works and indeed all ongoing projects of the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA. It is the right of every Nigerian to have value for their money deployed to the road infrastructure sector and therefore must show both interest and passion in all the ongoing projects by the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA, and indeed all projects of the Federal, State and Local governments. All poorly constructed roads should be photographed and reported immediately to the following contacts: 08030986263, 08037086137, or 08106423197; showing the name of the contractor, the location and type of contract and defects observed. The Federal Ministry of Works will document such reports, verify and take effective action to correct such infractions. The Federal Ministry of Works shall also periodically recognize publicly those who made such reports that are genuine in a public engagement forum to be hosted quarterly by
the Federal Ministry of Works and will sanction such erring contractors publicly too.

    
                        
8. THE USE OF ASPHALT AND CONCRETE PAVEMENT IN ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

 
a. The Federal Ministry of Works is shocked to observe the various acts of darkening counsel without knowledge on the position of the Ministry on the use of asphalt and concrete pavement in the development of our road infrastructure by people who have vowed not to release their hands off the brake of our road infrastructure development just for their selfish gains.

b. The Federal Ministry of Works has at no time banned the use of asphalt or directed that concrete pavement shall be the only means of road pavement structure. For the avoidance of doubt, the new policy of the Federal Ministry of Works is simply put as follows:

i.    contractors for all the ongoing projects are simply requested to have a choice to continue to use asphalt or have their projects redesigned on concrete at no extra cost to government following the underlisted conditions:
ii.    Use of asphalt: contractors shall stick to only 5% Variation on Price (VOP) in line with the signed contract agreement throughout the period of the project and the signed contract shall not be subject to review especially on bituminous items.
iii.    The thickness of the asphalt pavement as designed must be strictly adhered to by all such contractors and the design shelf life for the asphalt (at least 15 years) shall be guaranteed by issuing an insurance bond through a reputable insurance company in favour of the Federal Government. This is in line with Article 2 of the signed contract and clause 51 of the general conditions of contract (which is part of the documents forming the signed contract with contractors which authorize the client through the Engineer to change the scope of the work, the quantity of the work, the quality of the work as the client may deem fit at any time etc.) for all the ongoing projects. These directives to the contractors do not in any way violate the Federal Ministry of Works' signed agreement with the contractors.
iv.    For the use of concrete, contractors must abide by the 5% VOP and 50 years design shelf life using concrete grade 40.

c. Those who are complaining and demarketing this policy are simply those who do not wish Nigeria well and they are the same people that use adulterated bitumen in their projects while putting pressure on our Naira through the importation of adulterated bitumen instead of developing our abundant God given bitumen deposits in Ogun State and other parts of Nigeria. Insofar as this new policy has not violated any law, the Federal Ministry of Works is forging ahead with this new policy.  As at today, most of the ongoing projects are still ongoing with asphalt pavement in line with this new policy while some are redesigned on concrete pavement, depending on the terrain and with full understanding of the affected contractors of those projects.

9. The Federal Ministry of Works is very concerned with the supervision of our projects and effective 1st of December 2023, there will be a revolution in the ways and methods the Federal Ministry of Works supervises her projects nationwide. All concerned are HEREBY put on NOTICE as the Ministry will not spare anyone found culpable in his or her assignment. 

10. The Director of Works of the 36 States and FCT and  FERMA have been directed to audit all projects in their States and FCT especially equipment on and off sites with their pictures, personnel of contractors, status of all projects including financial status (contract sum, date of award, period of construction and time table, amount paid, challenges, % of work completion, augmentation of project if any, VOP claims etc). This assignment must be completed before 30th November 2023. Note that this directive was given since the past two months.

11. The Federal Ministry of Works wishes to thank Mr. President for his directive that all inherited projects from the past administration be continued while he makes frantic efforts to source for funds for the completion of these ongoing projects and the critical new ones within his 1st 4 years of his Divine 8 years of purposeful and fruitful divine administration through the power of God who divinely brought him to  leadership at this critical moment of our Nation’s history.

12. On the part of the staff of the Federal Ministry of Works, I pledge to strictly and Godly follow the divine Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, and God willing, we shall continue to support Mr. President and deepen the good efforts of Mr. President in all our road infrastructure development.

Signed:

H. E. Sen. (Engr.) Nweze David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE
Hon. Minister.
 

Nov

24

2023

FG is Committed to the Engineering Values in Road Infrastructure Development as Supervision Occupies a Centre Stage in the New Policy of the Federal Ministry of Works

The Federal Government under President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is committed to outstanding quality, value for money, innovation, responsiveness, fast deliveries and technical expertise in road infrastructure development in Nigeria. This was contained in the message of the Hon. Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON when the national leadership of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) led by its President, Engr.   Tasiu Sa'ad Gidari Wudil paid him a courtesy call in his office in Abuja on 23rd November, 2023.

The Hon. Minister emphasized the importance attached to quality delivery of construction works by the Renewed Hope administration of Mr. President stressing that the 'business as usual' syndrome in road construction is no longer tenable under the Renewed Hope administration of Mr. President. He reeled out the new policies on road infrastructure to include:

• good stabilized and tested subgrade, sub-base course before pavement placement.

• expose subgrade, sub-base and base course to 60 days vehicular movement and continuous sheep-foot rolling before pavement placement.

• introduction of reinforced concrete road pavement in most roads’ carriageway and shoulders.

• continuous maintenance of all roads under construction throughout the life of the project

under contract.

• effective design of road infrastructure anchored on detailed report of environmental site conditions and geotechnical report.

• community relations in terms of keeping roads motorable under the period of the contract.

He said that supervision was necessary in the actualization of quality delivery of road construction whether concrete pavement or asphalt, noting that each of the two models has its own attendant conditions.

“When you start to compare asphalt and concrete, it is if all things are equal, here all things are not equal, there are many factors why we are talking about concrete”.

He noted that the stand of the Ministry is not about comparing asphalt and concrete pavement but that if you are using either of them, there are conditions attached to them. He said there are certain terrains on our roads that make it   imperative for concrete pavement to  be used." You cannot put asphalt in water but you can put concrete in water”.

The Minister explained that the rate of increase in the cost of materials for construction of the two models is alarming  and argued that the cost of materials for  asphalt  is in  geometric progression while the cost of  materials for  concrete pavement  is in arithmetic progression. He reiterated that prudence and value for money are the watchwords of the Ministry of Works under him, and this involves getting materials at the minimum purchase price and maximum efficiency and effectiveness of the product. He urged the leadership of Nigerian Society of Engineers to consider retraining of members of the society and enforcement of discipline and strict standards of ethics in the practice of Engineering in Nigeria in the interest of public safety and for the protection of the economic investments.

" I went to China, and I saw their roads, there was no evidence of any maintenance in nearly 30 years. And I asked them what the reason is, and they said that if you build a road in China and within your lifetime, the road fails, they will come for test and if there is any evidence of compromise, the person responsible goes to prison for life".

The Hon. Minister offered partnership with the NSE in the area of supervision and consultancy.

In his mission statement earlier, the President of Nigerian Society of Engineers ( NSE) said the  aim of the courtesy call was to seek areas of collaboration with their own and described the Hon. Minister as a round beg in a round hole "Since after your assumption of office, we have been monitoring your  progress, and  I must tell you we are not surprised, what you did as Governor in Ebonyi State is amazing. We visited you when you were the Governor of Ebonyi State, and I am going to visit your Governor now. I must go because it is like a pilgrimage.... In fact, Your Excellency, we are proud of you."

The President said that the Society which is an umbrella organization for Engineering profession in Nigeria is committed to best Engineering practices. He enumerated the achievements of the Society and the prospects of their smart office project, and expressed hope that it would be an innovation hub of the nation.

Nov

23

2023

REMARKS BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ON THE GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION OF FEDERAL HOUSING AUTHORITY AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE ABUJA ON 23RD  NOVEMBER 2023.

Protocols
1.    I would like to start by congratulating the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Nigeria’s oldest housing institution, on this occasion of its 50th anniversary celebration.
2.    I also want to congratulate the Management and staff – retired and present – of FHA for keeping the fire of its mandate burning through these 50 years despite systemic, human-made and macroeconomic challenges.
3.    While we mark 50 years it is important for us to confront the truth of its history to learn the lessons from there. It is only based on this basis that we can begin the process of building a new FHA that delivers on its mandate.
4.    In 1973, the Federal Housing Authority was created with the mandate to provide housing to low- and medium-income earners nationwide. These functions were further expanded under the 2012 National Housing Policy to include the following key provisions.
•    To develop and manage real estate on a commercial basis in all states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
•    To provide sites and services for all income groups.
•    To execute housing programmes in the public interest as may be approved by the Federal Government and
•    To mobilize offshore funding for housing development.

5.    Pursuant to the re-defined roles, the National Council on Privatization in May 2013, approved FHA’s commercialization. The aim was to reduce the magnitude and scope of financial support of the Federal Government and allow the Authority to adapt to changing business requirements. At this time FHA had only managed to deliver 37,000 houses in its 40 years of existence.
6.    Now, ten years after commercialization, records show that FHA has only delivered a cumulative of just over 50,000 housing units. That shows an average of 1,000 houses per year in 50 years. This is clearly not acceptable, especially from Nigeria’s foremost housing agency that has so many institutional advantages that it can leverage to deliver more results. This includes free access to land from the federal government in all layouts and new districts, relationships with other government entities like the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and strategic positioning to engage in Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) with reputable developers given its name recognition as a government agency.  

Last month, during the Shelter Afrique EGM in Algeria, I discovered from my engagements with the Algerian Government that an Agency like the FHA delivers between 400,000 and 1m houses annually. In fact, in a particular year, that Agency delivered 1,060,000 houses.  This underscores the need for FHA to aggressively upscale its delivery capacity.

7.    I am also pained to say that analysis of all the PPPs that the FHA has entered into over the years have delivered little or no value to the country. This is also not acceptable. FHA needs to wake up to its responsibilities.  

8.    We have a serious housing crisis and current efforts; speed of delivery and strategies must be increased to meet the challenge. FHA must see this 50 years anniversary as a moment of soul-searching and resolve that the next 50 years will tell a different story. Like they say, we cannot change the past, but we can shape the future by doing things differently.

9.    What we need at FHA is leadership that is visionary and can innovate, think outside the box, while tackling problems. We can see this from the progressive, agenda setting and performance-driven leadership style of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
10.    His leadership is gradually re-setting Nigeria on the path of sustainable growth and economic prosperity. It is this sort of leadership that Mr. President demands for the housing and urban development sector, which we must all collectively provide.
11.    So, today, we are celebrating the Renewed Hope for the Federal Housing Authority. The fact that FHA is marking its 50th anniversary just six months into the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is not only a pleasant coincidence, but a golden opportunity for us to begin the process of writing a different, more progressive story for the next 50-years of the institution.
12.    Under the Renewed Hope Vision of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we want to see a reformed, more efficient, and capable Federal Housing Authority (FHA) that would have the financial strength to deliver more on its mandate.
13.    FHA is the one agency that has the license to play in all income segments, so the ministry expects the FHA to make judicious use of this advantage in the broad strategy of the government to deliver housing to Nigerians. I want to see the FHA go to the capital market, issue bonds, and raise funding to deliver mass housing projects across the country, market them, payback the loans, and declare profit. In the next fifty years, we expect that FHA would be celebrating millions of homes built and successfully delivered to Nigerians.
14.    As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I am ready to provide the necessary leadership that is required to move FHA forward. This includes granting the necessary Ministerial support for FHA to access funding from international development finance institutions such as Shelter Afrique.
15.    We can do this because we have a President who is a gamechanger. He has the political will to break all systemic barriers that have prevented government agencies such as FHA from delivering on their mandates and playing their role in moving Nigeria forward.   
16.    As part of our plans to ensure that housing agencies under the supervision of the Ministry are optimized to deliver on our target of providing affordable homes to Nigerians, we have composed a Housing Reform Team of experts, stakeholders, agency representatives, professional bodies, and academia to develop a robust framework for reform of the housing sector including thorough review of relevant laws and facilitation of necessary legislative amendments. This includes the following:
a.    The Land Use Act, 1978
b.    National Housing Fund (NHF) Act,1992
c.    Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Establishment Act, 1993
d.    Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Act,1973
e.    PenCom Act to allow for increased investment in housing.
f.    Driving Nationwide adoption and passage of the foreclosure law in states.

17.    We have secured the Presidential consent and will be inaugurating the Team within the next two weeks with a mandate to deliver their reports within two months. It is important to say that we are not trying to re-invent the wheel but to build on the existing body of industry knowledge. What we have lacked over the years is the POLITICAL WILL to implement them, which we now have in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

18.    I believe that the reforms and legislative amendments that the Housing Reform Team will execute in collaboration with stakeholders and the National Assembly will be the most comprehensive set ever done in the history of housing and urban development in Nigeria. This will give birth to a new FHA and other housing agencies that are fully empowered with the legal and financial capacity to deliver on their mandates.

19.    We are also working to implement the much-needed reforms that will ensure quick, easy, and efficient access to land. We have composed and secured Presidential consent to inaugurate a land reforms committee comprising state governments, traditional rulers, relevant agencies, professional bodies, academia, stakeholders to ensure buy-in and inclusivity.

20.    With their recommendations we will draft an Executive Bill and proceed to the National Assembly for the amendment of the obsolete Land Use Act 1978 that has hindered the development of the housing sector.

21.    In line with our policy of building on existing knowledge so we can move at a faster pace to deliver value, we invited and met with the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reforms. And I must say that it was a wise decision to do so. This is because we now have access to the comprehensive work they have done over the past 14 years on Land Reforms in our country. Immediately after the meeting we set up an Internal Ministerial Committee to review and recommend for inclusion in our land reforms strategy relevant parts of their recommendations. Part of this will be the establishment of the National Land Commission to spell out the guidelines and regulations for operationalizing the Land Use Act, 1978.

22.    On policy implementation we have called up and met with the FMDQs on the National Housing Strategy (NHS) that was launched in May this year. We have reviewed the document thoroughly towards identifying initiatives for inclusion in our plans for implementation.

23.    In line with the Renewed Hope plan to ensure that all Nigerians including the NO INCOME, vulnerable and underprivileged groups have access to decent and dignified accommodation, we are also creating the framework for the establishment of a National Social Housing Fund (NSHF). This is because we believe that access to decent shelter is a not only a necessity but a human right and that all Nigerians across all income segments deserve a decent home to live and grow.

24.    We have also prioritized building materials manufacturing in the country. This will ensure economic growth, create jobs, and reduce dependency on imports. To ensure success, we have composed a Building Materials Manufacturing Task Team comprising of experts and representatives from relevant government agencies, academia, professional bodies, and industry associations. They will conduct a thorough assessment of the current state of the building materials manufacturing sector and produce a strategic plan for reforming the sector for implementation. We plan to inaugurate the Team very soon. Our plan is to build six (6) building materials manufacturing hubs, one in each of the six (6) regions of the country.

25.    To increase the stock of housing supply, we have also composed and will inaugurate a Multi-Agency Project Delivery Team. The Team will ensure that all housing agencies including FHA work together towards optimizing their strengths to increase the stock of quality houses to Nigerians. The Team comprises highly qualified and experienced professionals with expertise in housing development, urban planning, infrastructure, finance, and project management.

26.    FHA will also play a key role in our New City Development Plan. Here the Ministry plans to lead partnerships with the private sector, local and international investors, towards redefining the concept of cities in Nigeria and decongesting city centers and state capitals in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.

27.    The first phase of the New City Development Plan aims to deliver Renewed Hope Cities ranging from 1,000 housing units per site in one location in each of the six geo-political zones of the country and FCT namely: Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Borno, Nasarawa, Rivers, and Enugu States, while the remaining thirty (30) States will have Renewed Hope Estates each with a minimum of 500 housing units.

28.    The Renewed Hope Cities will have inclusivity at their core: They will include Multi-Level Flats to cater to low-medium income earners; Terrace and Detached Bungalows and Duplexes for the high-income earners. The Renewed Hope Estates will have 1,2- and 3-bedroom affordable bungalows.

29.    Overall, we aim to deliver under this phase 1, a total of 40,000 homes from a mix of sponsors comprising the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development’s budgetary allocation, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), and through Public Private Partnerships with reputable developers in the delivery of the new cities.
30.    Ownership Options include Mortgage Loans, Rent-to-Own and Outright Purchase.

31.    At 25 jobs per unit, the first phase of the project will create direct and indirect 1,000,000 jobs helping to achieve the target to lift 1million Nigerians out of poverty.

32.    Under Phase 1 of the Slum Upgrading Programme, the Ministry plans a total of 26 sites nationwide. This includes four (4) sites in each of the six regions of the country totaling twenty-four (24) and two (2) in the FCT. The key services to be provided at the identified sites will include water supply, solar streetlights, rehabilitation of access roads, construction of drainages and waste management and sanitation services amongst others.
33.    The Federal Housing Authority has a major role to play in our ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ for housing and urban development. So, getting FHA to fulfill its mandate is a priority to us. We will encourage the Authority to operate optimally. We will drive the process for the release of the Take- off grant proposed for the Authority prior to its partial commercialization.
34.    As an agency that is not on the budget, we will strengthen FHA to be able to source private sector funds -locally and internationally – to drive its operations. What I want the FHA to know is that being partially commercialized and not being on the budget is a good thing. It gives you the latitude to become more creative and innovative in tapping financing for your activities.
35.    On this note, once again, I thank you all for joining us to mark the 50th Anniversary of Nigeria’s oldest housing institution and to celebrate the Renewed Hope for a more impactful and progressive FHA. It’s the Renewed Hope Era and all federal agencies must be primed to fire on all cylinders towards meeting Nigeria’s housing needs.
36.    Thank you all.

Nov

22

2023

REMARKS BY THE HON. MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ARC. AHMED MUSA DANGIWA AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 63RD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS IN ABUJA ON 22ND NOVEMBER 2023.

Protocols:

1.    Esteemed Members of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, distinguished guests, and friends.
2.    I extend my warmest greetings to each of you gathered here today on the occasion of the 63rd Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Architects and the inauguration of Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi as the 30th President of this esteemed institution.
3.    This event marks a significant milestone in the history of the Nigerian Institute of Architects. Architecture, beyond the sheer construction of buildings, stands as a testament to the fusion of art, science, and functionality. It is the manifestation of our aspirations, shaping the physical landscape and transcending the realms of aesthetics to profoundly impact human lives.
4.    In the rich tapestry of our nation’s architectural heritage, architects are the custodians of innovation, sustainability, and societal progress. The built environment reflects our cultural identity and bears the responsibility of creating spaces that foster community, inclusivity, and wellbeing for all.
5.    The Nigerian Institute of Architects stands as a beacon of excellence, embodying the values of professionalism, integrity, and creativity. Throughout its distinguished history, the institute has been a cradle for nurturing talent, fostering collaboration, and advocating for the highest standards of architectural practice.
6.    Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi’s ascendancy to the presidency signifies a new chapter in the institute’s journey. Her leadership qualities, coupled with a wealth of experience, will undoubtedly steer the institute toward greater heights of achievement. I am confident that under her guidance, the Nigerian Institute of Architects will continue to be a trailblazer, shaping the architectural landscape of our nation and beyond.
7.    As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I want to assure the Institute of our commitment to implementing historic reforms that will reset the housing and urban landscape of the country.
8.    His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has a bold vision for the sector and is committed to backing it up with the necessary political will to break down all barriers that discourage investment in the sector.
9.    At the Ministry, I have taken Mr. President’s vision and am determined to actualize it.  We want to drive through initiatives that will create an enabling environment for easier, safer, and profitable private sector investments in the sectors.
10.    Top on our agenda is establishing credible, scientific, and reliable housing data for planning and policy formulation.
11.    For years, our nation has grappled with conflicting and unsubstantiated figures regarding this crisis. The range of estimates, varying from 17 million to 28 million, has not only been a source of embarrassment but also a hindrance to effective policymaking and strategic planning.
12.    We plan to fix this national embarrassment by developing and implementing a mechanism to deliver reliable housing data to guide policy formulation. We have begun a strategic collaboration with the National Population Commission on housing data. The plan is to work with the Commission to design and implement survey instruments specifically tailored to address housing-related questions to arrive at the actual housing deficit during their upcoming population and housing census exercise.
13.    We understand clearly that the housing deficit is not solely about the quantity of structures but also about the quality of living conditions. So, we want to know whether the homes that Nigerians live in provide access to good sanitation, proper toilets, sufficient living spaces, a healthy environment, and other essential amenities. We have written to Mr. President and we are hopeful that with his approval for the conduct of the Census, we should fix this problem and put an end to this national embarrassment.
14.    To ensure that housing agencies under the supervision of the Ministry are optimized to deliver on your target of providing affordable homes to Nigerians, we have composed a Housing Reform Team of experts, stakeholders, agency representatives, professional bodies and academia to develop a robust framework for reform of the housing sector including thorough review of relevant laws and facilitation of necessary legislative amendments.
15.    This includes the Land Use Act of 1978, National Housing Fund (NHF) Act 1992, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Establishment Act 1993, Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Act 1973, PenCom Act to allow for increased investment in housing and the nationwide adoption and passage of the foreclosure law in states.
16.    The reforms and legislative amendments that the Reform Team will execute in collaboration with stakeholders and the National Assembly will be the most comprehensive set ever done in the history of housing and urban development in Nigeria.
17.    We have also composed a Multi-Agency Project Delivery Team that will ensure that all housing agencies work collaboratively together towards optimizing their strengths to deliver decent and affordable housing to Nigerians.
18.    In line with the Renewed Hope vision, we are also leading the much-needed reforms to ensure quick, easy, and efficient access to land, we have defined a framework for implementing historic land reforms that would unlock estimated $300bn in dead capital. Our aim is to ensure that Nigerians have legal titles over their land so they can use it to access credit for their business. Over 97% of land in Nigeria do not have titles thereby limiting its potential as an economic resource. We have engaged the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reforms (PTCLR) and committed to reviewing and incorporating relevant recommendations.
19.    A key part of this includes the establishment of a National Land Commission. The Commission will provide the guidelines and regulations for operationalizing the Land Use Act 1978. This will help streamline land administration.
20.    To drive this process, we have composed a land reforms committee comprising state governments, traditional rulers, relevant agencies, professional bodies, academia, stakeholders to ensure buy-in and inclusivity. With their recommendations we will draft an Executive Bill and proceed to the National Assembly for the amendment of the obsolete provisions in Land Use Act 1978.
21.    In line with the Renewed Hope Vision to ensure that all Nigerians including the NO INCOME, vulnerable and underprivileged groups have access to decent and dignified accommodation, we are creating the framework for the establishment of a National Social Housing Fund (NSHF) for your consideration and approval. We believe that access to decent housing is a human right, and all Nigerians deserve access to quality shelter.
22.    We also plan to boost building materials manufacturing in the country towards ensuring economic growth, creating jobs, reducing dependency on imports, and lowering the cost of construction materials and housing delivery.
23.    Our plan is to build six (1) Building Materials Hubs in each geo-political zone in the country. The hubs will be provided with relevant facilities, including access roads, electricity, fit for purpose housing and relevant linkages for manufacturers to site their firms and operate.
24.    To this end we have already composed a Building Materials Manufacturing Task Team comprising of experts and representatives from relevant government agencies, academia, professional bodies, and industry associations. Primarily, their job is to conduct a thorough assessment of the current state of the building materials manufacturing sector and produce a strategic plan for reforming the sector for implementation. We have already identified a set of consultants for prototype design of the hubs to be located one in each geo-political zone.
25.    In doing all these, we recognize the indispensable role of architects as key stakeholders in this endeavor. Our partnership with the Nigerian Institute of Architects will remain steadfast as we work hand in hand to devise innovative solutions, implement policies that promote sustainable development, and create environments that enhance the quality of life for all citizens.
26.    I extend my sincere congratulations to Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi on assuming the esteemed role of President and commend the institute for its unwavering dedication to advancing the architectural profession in Nigeria.
27.    May this gathering serve as a catalyst for renewed collaboration, innovation, and collective action toward building a brighter, more sustainable future for our nation.
28.    Thank you.

Nov

21

2023

Thinking Out of The Box and Inter- Ministerial Co-Operation Resonate as Mr. President's Minister of Works and The Minister of Steel Development Brainstorm on Tapping into the Opportunities in Ajaokuta Steel Plant for The Development of Concrete Road Infrastructure in Nigeria

The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON and the Hon. Minister of Steel Development, Shuaib Audu have resolved to synergize and strategize in tapping into the opportunities in Ajaokuta Steel Plant for the development of road infrastructure in Nigeria.

This was part of the outcome of their inter-ministerial meeting held today, 21st November, 2023 at the Office of the Hon. Minister of Works, Federal Ministry of Works, Headquarters, Mabushi- Abuja and this is in keeping with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR who is doing everything possible to reverse the ugly trend of Nigeria's developmental history and revolutionize national economic development within the shortest period of time.

The far-reaching resolutions of the two Hon. Ministers underscored the imperative of coordination, cooperation coherence, and complementarity in the execution of Federal Government's action plans for national development.

Speaking on the outcome of their meeting, the Hon. Minister of Works said that the Ministry of Steel Development would play a major role in the road infrastructure revolution plan envisioned by Mr. President by providing more than 16% of the materials needed for the construction of Nigeria's roads in concrete pavement. He said that tapping into the opportunities in Steel Industry would not only create jobs and wealth for Nigeria's population, but it would also create a global market and encourage industrialization.

"How do we reactivate Ajaokuta Steel. We are going into concrete road, in this concrete road, about 16 percent of it is from Steel while 30 percent is cement. We need a lot of money to start but we decided to face it and God has given us an idea, we need about 35 billion dollars to start. If we start waiting for FG, it might become difficult. We did Return on Investment (ROI), the profit we could have made, part of it will go to bank interest, we are looking at commercial bank, but Federal Executive Council has to endorse it. If this could be done it means Mr. President is actually living to his words, and this is going to be possible."

The Hon Minister of Works also commended the Hon. Minister of Steel Development for his efforts in developing the steel sector, noting that steel industry is the bedrock of Nigeria's industrialization and the backbone that stimulates national development and economic boost for the industrial growth of any nation. He assured the Hon. Minister of  Steel Development that his Ministry would work collaboratively in his efforts of  enhancing the potentialities of Ajaokuta Steel Plant- the largest Steel Mill in Nigeria.

"Mr. President never made a mistake in his appointment, I call him a Divine President, and the most important thing is that our eyes are on the job”.

The Minister continued, “One of the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President is to think outside the box, Mr. President inherited a large chunk of debt from the past administration. The beauty about it is that he is not complaining, he knew how the country was before he took the job and how it is. The good thing is that if you have passion for something God will give you an idea”.

Earlier, the Minister of Steel Development said the meeting was robust and incisive “My mission is a wonderful one, I had a fantastic meeting initiated by the Hon. Minister of Works.  We are seriously thinking outside the box to see how we can implement the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President. What we came to discuss here is how to restart Steel production at Ajaokuta Steel Plant. The Hon. Minister of Works has made it very clear that the Federal Government is looking to develop over 30,000 kilometers of road and a large component of that will be from Steel wrought, and percentage of that Steel wrought will be produced in Ajaokuta. We came to have a discussion on how to implement the process for producing it in Ajaokuta within the shortest possible time".

The Hon. Minister of Steel Development emphasized the importance of the initiative by both Ministers and expressed hope that it would provide the needed economic boost for the nation, generate revenue and provide thousands of direct jobs for skilled and non- skilled technicians and hundreds of thousands of unskilled jobs in Nigeria. "And we are to achieve 2 or 3 three things , one to create job opportunity for Nigerians  as a whole, two, to ensure that the corridor around the North Central Zone and around the Ajaokuta Warri axis is busy with activities and thirdly, the plant has been inactive for close to four decades and we are here to restart the plant within the shortest possible time”.

Nov

16

2023

Governor  Zulum  Pays A Courtesy Call To The Hon. Minister Of Works, Seeks Federal Government's Intervention On Road Infrastructure In Borno State

The Hon  Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen  Engr  Nweze David Umahi, CON  today 16th November, 2023  had an  audience in his office with the Governor of  Borno State, His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum CON Although the outcome of the meeting  was not made known to the press,  it was not unconnected with the zeal of the Governor to queue into the   Federal Government's intervention plans on road infrastructure across the States of the Federation.

The Governor, an Engineer, is on his second tenure in office and he is seen as one of the Governors that walk the talk in terms of innovative development.

The Hon.  Minister was happy to receive him in his office and expressed readiness to give him the needed support in the area of road infrastructure.

Nov

16

2023

Keynote Address by the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Housing & Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, at the 12th Meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development (NCLHUD) Holding from 13th - 17th November 2023
    
PROTOCOL

Your Excellency, the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
Your Excellency, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Kashim Shettima Mustapha, GCON,
The Hon. Minister of State, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Tijjani Gwarzo
Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani
Permanent Secretary, Federal Minister of Works and Housing
Heads of Parastatals and Agencies,
Distinguished Commissioners
Housing industry Stakeholders
Members of Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations,
The Media and members of the Press,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

SPEECH

1.    It is my pleasure to welcome the Distinguished Members of the Council and other dignitaries to the 12th Edition of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development with the theme: “Harnessing Local and International Credit Schemes as a Panacea for Affordable Housing Infrastructure Development Under the “Renewed Hope Agenda”.

2.    This is my first attendance at the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development as the Minister of Housing and Urban Development. Before now I attended it for several years as the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). So, I understand all the issues that are of concern to the Council and requiring urgent attention.  

3.    These challenges include the inefficiencies in our land administration processes, infrastructure deficit, high construction costs and weak household demand. Others are inadequate access to affordable housing financing options, which I believe informed the theme of this year’s Council.

4.    Today, as you are all aware, we have a stand-alone Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. The last time we had this independence was decades ago, so we do not take it for granted. 

 
5.    By this demerger, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has shown that housing is a top priority for his government, because of its unique potential to catalyze economic growth, create jobs and lift millions out of poverty.

6.    The implication is that Mr. President now expects action and results. So as Commissioners of Housing and critical stakeholders in the housing delivery value chain at both national and sub-national levels, we must all up our game. We must work harder to break all the barriers that have mitigated against the progress of the sector.  

7.    At the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, we are committed to providing the right leadership as the focal driver of His Excellency’s bold vision for the housing sector. Indeed, we are charting a progressive, proactive, and knowledge-based approach to address these by thinking out of the box.

8.    We are exploring creative solutions and will implement necessary reforms so that we can rewrite the story of housing and urban development in our dear country. I urge you all to join me so that when the story of the transformation of the sector is written, you will be happy to have contributed your patriotic quota.

9.    Before I proceed, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani for accepting to host this 12th Meeting of the Council in Kaduna State at such a brief notice.  We sincerely thank you for your support and understanding. We also want to appreciate the warm reception and the hospitality that the good people of Kaduna State have accorded us all.

10.    I must also say it is a divine coincidence that this Council Meeting is holding in Kaduna State after being planned for another state. This is because Kaduna State has demonstrated exemplary leadership in housing development. The State stands as a good example of how we should approach the challenges in the housing sector.

11.    In June 2017, Kaduna State became one of the first states in the country to adopt and pass into law the Model Mortgage Foreclosure Law (MMFL). Kaduna State now has a functional State Mortgage and Foreclosure Authority that coordinates   and   promotes   housing investments   and   mortgage   development activities as stipulated in the foreclosure law.

12.    On the supply side, Kaduna State has implemented reforms in land administration, titling and registration and offered fiscal incentives, among others. They have digitized land administration through the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), provided land for willing developers to help expand the housing stock and even began direct construction of low-medium income housing by their Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. On the demand side, they have developed single-digit interest rate mortgage arrangements with Sterling Bank, FHA Mortgage Bank and NMRC. The mortgage arrangement with Sterling Bank has enabled the buyers of non-essential government residential assets, more than 80 percent of whom are civil servants, to secure mortgage loans to pay for the properties which were sold at open market value.     

13.    As a result, the revenue generation for the State has risen tremendously at over 44billion per annum. The State has been in the top 10 revenue generating States in Nigeria and first among the Northern States.

14.    Kaduna has made all this possible despite the lack of amendments to the Land Use Act. It is therefore no wonder that the state has become a major source of foreign direct investment.

15.    I am particularly impressed by the State’s Qatar Sanabil Project, which aims to deliver about 500,000 housing units.  This is a laudable feat and testament to the business-friendly environment of Kaduna State that is worthy of emulation.

16.    As I mentioned earlier, Housing is one of the critical sectors earmarked for focus under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.  It is tied to Four (4) of the Eight (8) key presidential priorities of the current government namely, Economic growth and Job creation, Access to capital, social inclusion or Inclusivity and Ending poverty.  These Four presidential priorities of Government underline the priorities of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development over the next 4 years through the following efforts:

a.    Reform of Federal Housing Institutions such as the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Family Home Funds (FHF) and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to enhance efficiency and capacity.

b.    Establishment of a National Social Housing Fund to cater to the housing needs of the NO INCOME, homeless and vulnerable groups. .

c.    Review of the Land Use Act (1978) to streamline access to land.

d.    Establishment of a robust Mortgage Registry to facilitate property transactions and increased home ownership;

e.    Increasing housing supply

f.    Establishment of private sector-led local building materials manufacturing clusters in each geopolitical zone of the country.

g.    Development of fiscal incentives for private Investors to manufacture local building component.

17.    The achievement of these targets would require an “All of Government” Approach and Actions that foster continuous engagement between Governments at all levels along with the private sector and relevant International Organizations operating in the Housing sector. This approach is particularly required because land is a serious impediment to the expansive construction of mass, social and affordable housing in Nigeria.  Accordingly, the contribution of State Governments who are critical Stakeholders, being the custodian of land in line with the Constitution and the current Land Use Act, is vital.

18.    As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I have taken Mr. President’s vision and am determined to actualize it.  Our aim at the Ministry is to implement the most historic housing and urban sector reforms the country has ever witnessed. We want to drive through initiatives that will create an enabling environment for easier, safer, and profitable private sector investments in the sectors.

19.    A notable part of our housing sector reforms is land reforms. What we envision is a streamlined land administration that cuts through the bureaucratic bottlenecks and systemic inefficiencies to ensure cost effective and efficient access to land for both individuals and investors in our country.

20.    Currently, we have a situation where the Land Use Act, which was enacted in 1978 has no complementary institution set up alongside it to provide the necessary framework, guidelines, and regulations for operationalizing it. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we aim to fix this systemic anomaly. We are working to establish a National Land Commission. Part of their work will be to outline clear implementation guidelines for the Land Use Act to chart a new path of effective land administration in the country.

21.    Only recently, I invited members of the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reforms (PTCLR) to the Ministry, and I must say that the work they have done over the past 14 years is comprehensive and commendable. We have set up an Internal Committee to review their submissions for inclusion in our land reforms strategy.

22.    Despite challenges, I believe there is hope for a significant turnaround for the Housing and Urban Development sector in Nigeria. My confidence lies in the fact that we have a President who is a visionary, and a gamechanger. He has shown that he has the political will to back his bold vision of providing affordable and quality housing for all.

23.    With Mr. President’s support, we are set to commence Phase 1 of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates and Slum Upgrading Programme nationwide before the end of this year.  The Phase 1 of the project is targeted to deliver 34,500 housing units consisting of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom affordable multi-level flats and bungalows for low-income earners, as well as high-end detached bungalows, terraces and duplexes for high income earners in Thirty (30) States of the Federation including, Kano, Lagos, Rivers, Borno, Enugu, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

24.    To ensure affordability for Nigerians we have already mapped out the following options. These include Rent-to-Own, Public Rental, Mortgage Loans, and where applicable, outright sale.  

25.    With regards to the Slum Upgrading Programme, the Ministry plans to upgrade a total of 26 slums in the Six (6) regions of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory. This project would ensure the provision of key infrastructure and ancillary services including access roads, water supply, solar streetlight, drainages, sanitation and waste management services etc., that would improve the living standards of the slum residents in the project sites and the urban poor in general.

26.    In the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development the issue of financing housing development and urban infrastructure remains priority.  Some of these innovative financing and credit-driven approaches, which could be exploited to its fullest potential include:

a.    Increasing the adoption of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and similar Institutional arrangements.
b.    Encouraging the growth of various Credit schemes, Housing Cooperatives and Rent-To-Own Schemes;
c.    Increasing access to Multilateral/Bilateral, Pension Funds and Capital Market funding sources.
d.    Expanding housing construction finance from Federal and State Housing Agencies.

27.    Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to conclude by encouraging each one of you to see yourselves as the visionaries and gamechangers of land administration in your various states. As you aim to attract financing to your various states, we cannot do this effectively if we do not have a streamlined land administration system. It will not be possible if we do not have a model mortgage foreclosure law passed and operational in your state. Experts agree that it is not possible to have sustainable economic growth without land reforms.

28.    So, my charge for all of you as Commissioners of Housing is that you should go back to your States as Senior Advocates of Land Reforms (SALRS). Impress on your State Governments to toe the line that Kaduna and some states such as Ekiti, Nasarawa, Lagos have toed by passing the Model Mortgage Foreclosure, implementing land titling and property registration using GIS even as we work to review the Land Use Act of 1978.

29.    Let me assure you all that the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development would continue to work closely with Members of the Senate and House Committees on Lands, Housing and Urban Development to ensure successful passage and review of the laws required to ensure speedy realization of all the Ministry’s and Sector’s plans and targets.

30.    Before I close, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, H.E. Senator Aminu Tambuwal, the Chairman, House Committee on Housing and Habitat, Hon. Balele Aminu and Chairman, House Committee on Regional Planning and Urban Development, Hon. Abiante Awaji for their continuous legislative support towards the development of the Housing Sector in Nigeria.

31.    My greetings and appreciation also go to all Participants and Resource persons.  I thank you all for your efforts and contributions to the success of this Meeting.

32.    Finally, I would like to again reiterate and assure you of the Ministry’s commitment to sustaining the necessary collaborations, partnerships and engagements with all relevant Stakeholders in the Housing and Urban Development sector, as we all work together towards providing affordable housing and ensuring sustainable urban development in Nigeria.

33.    Thank you all for your attention and God bless.

Nov

15

2023

WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ARC. AHMED M. DANGIWA FNIA, FCIB, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 28TH CONFERENCE OF DIRECTORS OF LANDS IN THE FEDERAL AND STATE MINISTRIES, DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES HOLDING AT MARCELINA’S PLACE, IKEJA, LAGOS, ON 15TH - 16TH NOVEMBER 2023

PROTOCOLS:
1.    It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the 28th Conference of Directors of Lands in Federal and State Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Nigeria.
2.    As most of you are already aware, this Conference was conceived over 28 years as part of efforts to promote effective land administration in our country.  
3.    Each year the Conference provides a platform for Directors of Lands at Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, State Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Nigeria to gather, network, share experiences, discuss sector challenges to produce clear recommendations that border on promoting effective land administration in the country.
4.    The Conference objective remains noble, progressive, and relevant today, as it was back then when the Conference was conceived. So, as we begin this 2023 edition, the 28th one in a series, we must do so in full recognition of the current in-efficient and challenges-full state of land administration in our country today.
5.    To do this means asking ourselves some tough questions to bring us to reality and confronting the answers.
6.    First, can we say that the sum of annual gatherings and conversations over the close to three (3) decades of this conference are helping us make progress in fixing the many issues in land administration in our dear country?
7.    How many of the issues that we discuss each year at this Conference end up tackled and solved? How many of the recommendations that the Conference produces end up implemented? Or are we simply moving around in circles and turning the conference into an annual bazaar of some sort. Do we even have a tracking mechanism to monitor whether we are making progress or not?
8.    We must confront these questions and be humbled by the answers. It is only by doing this reality check that we can find the inspiration, encouragement and resolve to work harder and differently in our respective offices as Directors and stakeholders towards achieving the noble goals with which this Conference was established.
9.    As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I must say that I am honestly not happy with the current state of land administration in the country. And the reasons are obvious. The same issues that were there decades ago are still there today with us today.
10.    This includes inadequate land information systems, complex land tenure systems, cumbersome and time-consuming land registration processes that contribute to delays and corruption in the system; the lack of a streamlined and transparent registration process that discourages investment and hinders economic development; inadequate urban planning which lead to informal settlements; congestion, and improper land use, inadequate legal and regulatory frameworks which results in legal uncertainties, making it difficult for individuals and businesses to navigate the land administration system with confidence. These are all problems that we all must fix. No one will do it for us.
11.    I must acknowledge that some of these problems are beyond the capacity of the Conference and Directors to resolve. Indeed, the most fundamental ones such as the Land Use Act 1978 require legislative amendments and national government policy interventions. However, there is a lot of room for innovation to circumvent the limitations posed by some of these barriers. We have seen in States such as Kaduna, Kano, where innovative leaders have found ways to implement reforms that have helped them ease land administration by introducing efficiencies in land titling and property registration despite the limitations of the Land Use Act. These states deserve our commendation.
12.    And my charge to all of you attending this 2023 Conference is that we must do likewise. We must think out of the box, innovate, and learn to do things differently. That will help us make progress and change the narrative going forward.
13.    The theme of this year’s Conference — "Improving Land-Based Revenue of the Federating Units in Nigeria through Efficient and Effective Land Administration" — speaks directly to the core of our national progress.
14.    As you are all aware, land, is an economic resource that holds immense potential for revenue generation and sustainable development. However, to harness this potential, we must address the challenges within our land administration systems and strive for efficiency and effectiveness.
15.        I am happy to inform you that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is set to tackle the systemic challenges that have hindered effective land administration. Mr. President has a bold vision for the sector and is committed to backing it up with the necessary political will to break down all barriers to unlock the revenue earning potential of land.
16.    As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, we have taken Mr. President’s vision and are running with it. Our aim is to implement the most historic land reforms the country has ever witnessed to make it easier, safer, and more profitable for the private sector to invest in the sector and make good returns.
17.    A notable part of our broad housing sector reforms includes the implementation of comprehensive land reforms towards streamlining land administration and ensuring easy, cost effective and efficient access to land in our country.
18.    Currently, we have a situation where the Land Use Act was enacted in 1978 but there was no complementary institution set up alongside it to provide the necessary framework, guidelines, and regulations for operationalizing it. We are working to establish a National Land Commission that would fix this gap and chart a new way forward for effective land administration in the country.
19.    This will improve land titling and boost Nigeria’s ranking on the World Bank Ease of Doing Business where we currently rank 186th out of 190 countries on the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index in terms of ease of registering properties. Last week I met with the leadership of the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reforms, Prof. Peter O. Adeniyi, where we agreed to incorporate the extensive work that they have done over 14 years in our land reform strategy. As the renowned land reform scholar said, experience shows that a nation can never develop if it does not conduct land reform. It will also help to boost revenues that States and Federal Government can earn from land.
20.    The second related reform is the nationwide adoption of the Model Mortgage Foreclosure Law. The Model Mortgage Foreclosure Law (MMFL) is a housing industry stakeholder initiative and part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR that is focused on establishing an enabling environment for investment in real estate and the growth of mortgages in a state. It provides contemporary provisions on the creation, registration, and enforcement of mortgages, along with remedies like foreclosure and the enforcement of mortgages on real properties and related purposes in Nigeria.
21.    As of date, the Model Mortgage Foreclosure Law (MMFL) has been passed in four (4) states, including Lagos, Kaduna, Ekiti, and Nasarawa States. We aim to drive its passage in all the states of the federation as part of our efforts to ensure that investments in the housing and mortgage sector are protected.
22.    The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, through the Lands and Housing Development Departments, made great strides in improving land-based revenue generation for the Federal Government by way of income from fees charged on both primary and secondary transactions. These are statutory fees demanded for use of Federal Government lands.
23.    As you deliberate on land and land related issues for the next two days, I urge you to critically examine measures that you can act on in the interim such issues as digitization of land titling process to improve ease of doing business, fostering synergy between public and private investors in housing delivery, checking the trend of double titling and multiple charges on Federal Government properties in the states, all of which is aimed at improving land based revenue in the tiers of government. At the end of your deliberations, it is hoped that you will come up with meaningful and workable solution to most of the problems confronting land administration and management at the various tiers of Government.
24.    Knowing fully well that the outcome of this conference will form part of input/proposals to the National Council on Lands and Housing to be held next year. It is, therefore, with all seriousness of purpose that I enjoin you to be sincere and meticulous in your deliberations, putting the interests of the Country and complexity of interests in land in focus, in addressing issues hindering efficient land administration and management in Nigeria with a view to improving land-based revenue for sustainable development in the country.
25.    On this note, it is now my special pleasure and privilege to declare the 28th Conference of Directors of Lands in Federal and State Ministries, Departments and Agencies open.
26.    Thank you and may God bless Nigeria.

Nov

13

2023

FG To Assist Vulnerable Nigerians Own Houses - Perm Sec

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mahmuda Mamman, has disclosed the intention of the federal government to assist vulnerable Nigerians own houses.

Mamman made this disclosure while fielding questions from journalists, on the first day of the 12th meeting of the National Council on Housing and Urban Development taking place in Kaduna State.

The theme for the 12th council meeting is “Harnessing Local and International Credit Schemes as a Panacea for Affordable Housing Infrastructure Development Under the "Renewed Hope Agenda. "

The Permanent Secretary said, " The National Housing Scheme Programme by the ministry would assist the vulnerable population of the country to afford a roof over their heads and this would in turn bridge the gaps in the housing sector."

He further explained that the housing ministry intends to go for social housing schemes to provide decent and affordable houses to cater to the housing needs of Nigerians, saying that it was part of the efforts to realize the ambition and also in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Accordingly, the Permanent Secretary stated that deliberations at the housing council meeting which commenced today would figure out ways the state governments can queue into the scheme.

“We have written letters to the various state governments asking them to give us unencumbered lands so that we can be able to build these affordable houses for all Nigerians because it is a matter of right and not a privilege, that is why this administration is doing things differently”, he added.

He also mentioned that an ongoing survey being conducted by the National Population Commission would ascertain the accurate figure of housing deficit in the Nation, and the figures would be made known upon completion of the survey.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Kaduna state ministry of housing and urban development, Rabi’u Yunusa, informed the meeting that government of Kaduna State was working on a programme that would provide affordable social mass housing which would accommodate 1000 houses in the rural areas and 300 houses in the Urban areas, across the 23 local government areas of the state.

Yunusa further revealed that the state has attracted a Qatari charity organization to provide 500 housing units for the most vulnerable people in the state, while also assuring that the State government was poised to build 10,000 units of houses in the next four years.

In his introductory remarks, Director Planning, Research and Statistics, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Kolapo Raheem explained that the theme for the 12th National Council of Housing was chosen in consideration of the alarming need to galvanize domestic and foreign funds towards meeting the nation’s housing challenges, as well as the enhancement of the country’s overall economic growth and development.

He further urged the participants to explicate their professionalism in the deliberations so as to guide policy formulation that will facilitate affordable housing delivery.

Nov

10

2023

WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE HON. MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ARC. AHMED DANGIWA, DURING A MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON LAND REFORMS AT THE MINISTRY’S HEAD OFFICE IN ABUJA ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023

Protocols:
1.    It is my pleasure to welcome the Chairman of the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform, Prof. Peter O. Adeniyi, and other distinguished members of the Committee to this very important meeting.
2.    We initiated the engagement with the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reforms that has led to today’s meeting as part of our stakeholder engagements towards ensuring that we avail ourselves of all relevant knowledge, resources, and inputs from efforts made by previous governments over time to fix the challenges with land administration in our country.
3.    This is because we acknowledge that past governments set up teams, committees, and working groups and land administration comprising industry experts and stakeholders. These have produced several blueprints for solving this problem, with the only thing lacking being the political will to get the job done, by following through and implementing the recommendations.
4.    Under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we now have that political will, and at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, we are committed to ensuring that we use it optimally to break the jinx of land administration in our country.
5.    As you are all aware, the review of the Land Use Act 1973 is a top priority under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President for Housing and Urban Development. This is because land is the foundation of the housing delivery process, requiring governing laws that ensure its availability, accessibility, efficient use, transferability, and convertibility.
6.    Currently, key Statistics on Nigeria’s Land Administration show that:
a.    Nigeria ranks 186th out of 190 countries on the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index in terms of ease of registering properties.
b.    The land administration system across several metrics includes an average of 12 procedures and 92 days to register landed properties, costing up to 11% of the property value.
c.    Nigeria has a score of 8 out of 30 in terms of the quality of land administration. About 97% of land is unregistered but traded regularly.
d.    According to PWC, Nigeria has $300bn in dead capital. This means that streamlining land administration will unlock the potential of land as an economic resource and a catalyst for economic growth, helping to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
7.    We understand and believe that your Committee has done extensive work on the review of the Land Use Act and come up with several recommendations. That is why we requested that you come and brief us so that we are properly guided in our strategy to actualize Mr. President’s goal to fix this long-standing issue.
8.    Once again, I welcome you all, and I look forward to a fruitful meeting.