Minister Announces Major Housing, Urban Development Initiatives 

Rebecca Mu’azu, Gombe

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The Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has addressed key issues affecting affordable housing and urban planning.

He said this during a visit to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, on the sideline of the 13th edition of the National Council on Lands, Housing, and Urban Development held in Gombe, where relevant stakeholders have been discussing issues around affordable housing, urban and regional planning/upgrading, and climate change.

Mr. Dangiwa said the national council had an annual event, which brings together directors, permanent secretaries, and industry experts to discuss solutions to housing challenges and climate resilience.

He highlighted the ministry’s commitment to addressing affordable housing and urban renewal issues across the nation.

According to him, the central focus was the Renewed Hope Estates and Cities project, which is aimed at providing affordable housing in various regions, saying Gombe State has been selected as a pilot location for the North East, where 250 housing units are nearing completion. “We plan to commission this project by December,” stated Mr. Dangiwa.

He affirmed that substantial progress had been made, with most units at the roofing stage.

In addition to housing, the minister said the ministry was tackling slum upgrades and urban renewal, in which Gombe State had been one of four states selected for targeted interventions to enhance living conditions in underdeveloped areas.

Similarly, Mr. Dangiwa said the ministry was also driving land reforms, working towards establishing a National Land Commission. “Our goal is to operationalise the Land Use Act, which has been unchanged for some time. These reforms aim to streamline land management and make it more accessible for development,” Mr. Dangiwa said.

He said the Renewed Hope Programme included plans for a Building Material Manufacturing Hub in each geopolitical zone to reduce construction costs and create jobs.

Once again, he said Gombe State had been chosen as the North East hub, given its central location and business-oriented community, saying the ministry is in discussions with two interested investors, with involvement from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to solidify a public-private partnership.

Mr. Dangiwa reiterated the ministry’s dedication to creating sustainable and affordable housing solutions and supporting local economies through strategic urban development.

Governor Yahaya expressed heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister for selecting Gombe State for the transformative projects, highlighting that the initiatives aligned with his administration’s ambitious development goals, which focus on urban renewal, economic diversification, and infrastructure development.

“Our administration is dedicated to making Gombe a center for economic and industrial growth in the Northeast. We’ve laid a strong foundation with key projects like the 1,000-hectare Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, a recent MoU with a Chinese company to establish a 100MW solar power plant, and by leveraging the existing Dadin Kowa hydroelectric power plant,” Governor Yahaya stated.

He gave detailed the roles of the Gombe Geographic Information System (GOGIS) and the Gombe State Urban Planning Development Authority (GOSUPDA), noting that the agencies have been strengthened to improve land management, enforce urban development regulations, and enhance spatial planning.

“With Nigeria’s population expected to grow significantly, we are proactively preparing for future urban expansion. Our goal is to ensure that every citizen has access to safe, climate-resilient, and affordable housing. We are committed to sustainable urban development that adheres to global environmental standards,” the Governor added.

 

Dominica Nwabufo

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