The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has stated that the Housing Ministry under his leadership is exploring creative solutions and will also implement necessary reforms 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 catalyse 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 is 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 Organisations operating in the Housing sector,” he added.
While noting that land reforms are 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 the 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 ₦ 44 billion per annum despite the lack of amendments to the Land Use Act.
While speaking, the 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, said 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 in 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.
Also speaking, the chairman of, the 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 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 given 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.
Dominica Nwabufo
