Nigeria’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is to collaborate with the local government departments of Works, Housing, Transportation and Environment on slum upgrading and Urban Renewal Programme in selected states of the federation.
This was affirmed when the leadership of the National Association of Directors of Local Government Departments of Works, Housing, Transport and Environment in Nigeria paid a visit to the Minister, Arc Ahmed Dangiwa in his office in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The representatives of the association were led on a study and advocacy visit to the housing ministry by its National President, Musa K. Adamu.
Slum upgrade
Minister Dangiwa told the delegation that beyond housing delivery, the ministry is embarking on slum upgrade and urban renewal in selected states across the country, hence the need for closer collaboration with the relevant local government department’s in the selected states in the execution of the programme.
“Through this programme, we are upgrading communities deemed not fit for human habitation by all standards and transforming them into decent, liveable communities.
We will do this by providing infrastructure like roads, water, sanitation, and other amenities.
This means we will be needing the support and collaboration of your members in these places to make our work easy,” he said.
The minister also remarked that “as Directors and Heads of departments of works, housing, transport, and environment, you have an important role to play in driving policies at the local government levels“.
Deployed to local government
He also said that the housing ministry is working on another programme under the National Social Housing which would be deployed to the Local Government Areas .
“ Under the National Social Housing Programme, the Federal Government wants to build 100 decent and affordable accommodations in each of the 774 Local Government Areas to the low income and underprivileged citizens,” he stated
On requests made by the association for involvement in development matters, policies and projects that are crucial to the welfare of the localities, the minister calls for collaboration on housing delivery.
The National President of the Association Musa Adamu told the minister that the study and advocacy visit provided them the opportunity to commend the developmental efforts of the ministry.
He appealed on behalf of the Association to the Minister to partner with them in revitalising their departments for optimal performance and grassroots development.
Adamu said they were optimistic that the Minister would use his office to take decisions that would foster harmonious relationships between the Ministry and Local Governments in Nigeria.
Lateefah Ibrahim
