Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Dangiwa, has called on stakeholders in the housing sector to leverage the Ministry’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to mobilise financing for affordable housing and urban development in the country.
The Minister, who was represented by the Minister of State, Housing Development, Abdullahi Tijani Gwarzo, made the call during the commemoration of 2023 World Habitat Day and World Cities Day held in Abuja, with the theme, Financing Sustainable Urban Future for All.
This is part of our focus at the ministry, and we will continue to entrench sustainability in our effort to build new cities that are demand-driven and transform slums into more decent neighbourhoods.
— Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (@fmhud_ng) October 31, 2023
“Urbanisation has become one of the most transformative forces shaping our world in the 21st century. It is a phenomenon that can be harnessed to enhance economic productivity, inclusive growth, and environmental sustainability. Urban dwellers now account for more than 50 percent of Nigeria’s population and are expected to increase to 60 percent by the year 2030. It is our duty to make adequate preparations for the expected upsurge of population in our towns and cities through effective urban planning and management and building the needed resilience and innovations to absorb the expected shocks,” he said.
The Minister also said the Federal Government is paying thoughtful attention to the issues and challenges of urbanisation in the country and called for accelerated action in the pursuit of sustainable human settlement development while coming up with measures to mitigate the impact of the rapid urbanisation being experienced worldwide.
Speaking, the Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, said one of the ways to recover from the current global economic meltdown is to diversify into housing construction.
“The government has to make a concerted effort at urban development through the building of new cities and the regeneration of old ones. Through this, not only would we provide houses to our people, we would also deliver a more liveable and secure environment to them,” Ashafe said.
He further stated that the value chain of the housing industry remains the surest bet for creating jobs, both directly and indirectly, employing both professionals and non-professionals.
Today, over half of the world’s population lives in cities. By 2050, this number is expected to rise to 70%.
On Tuesday’s #WorldCitiesDay, @UNHABITAT calls for increased investment in inclusive, resilient cities to achieve a more sustainable future. https://t.co/DjwOJSblHe
— United Nations (@UN) October 31, 2023
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, who spoke virtually, urged governments, international organisations, the private sector, and civil society to work together to mobilise finance for resilient and sustainable cities.
“As we mark World Cities Day, let’s resolve to work together for urban areas that are not only engines of growth but beacons of sustainability, resilience, and prosperity for all,” he added.
