Nigeria’s newly appointed Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, has assumed office in Abuja, vowing to drive reforms, expand affordable housing, and strengthen stakeholder engagement in one of Africa’s fastest-urbanising nations.
Darma, recently confirmed by the Nigerian government, said his leadership would prioritise inclusiveness, transparency, and results-driven performance as Nigeria seeks to address a significant housing deficit amid rapid population growth.
“I am ready to move the Ministry forward. My doors are open to everyone,” the Minister pledged, explaining that he would adopt an open-door policy to gather “ideas, suggestions, and contributions from all stakeholders,” Darma assured Nigerians.
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The Minister outlined plans for extensive consultations with departmental heads, regulatory bodies, and industry professionals to assess existing policies, programmes, and institutional frameworks.
He said the review would identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges, and inform a clear roadmap for improved service delivery.
“Insights derived from these consultations will guide the formulation of strategic initiatives and reforms,” the Minister explained.
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Emphasising internal discipline, Darma warned against bureaucratic delays and misconduct that could undermine progress.
“We must all be committed to the success of this Ministry. There should be no room for actions that will undermine our collective goals,” he stressed, underscoring teamwork and shared responsibility among staff.
Darma called for sustained interventions to improve living conditions in underserved communities, promote inclusive planning, and expand access to affordable housing.
He also highlighted plans to deepen public-private partnerships, advance land reforms, strengthen skills development, and leverage digital tools to improve housing delivery.
“I am committed to building on the solid foundation already laid and to driving bold, innovative solutions that will expand access to affordable housing, create jobs for Nigerians, and foster sustainable urban development,” Darma stated.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Housing, Abdullahi Yusuf Ata, said the ministry had made progress since its re-establishment in 2023, citing public-private housing projects and the Renewed Hope Housing Programme across 17 states, which he noted has generated more than 300,000 jobs.
He also pointed to ongoing developments in Karsana, Ibeju-Lekki, and Janguza, alongside expanded national housing schemes and digital land record systems.
Despite challenges such as budget delays, Ata said the ministry had built a pipeline of projects aimed at accelerating housing delivery and job creation.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Shuaib Belgore, expressed confidence that the new leadership would strengthen performance and align with national development priorities.