Dangiwa Positioning Housing Ministry for Optimal Housing Delivery Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Architect Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, FNIA has said that his ministry is being positioned to function optimally in the delivery of housing to Nigerians.   Arc. Dangiwa spoke when he received members of the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA) in his office, Tuesday, September 5, 2023.   " We are positioning the ministry to perform optimally to function as the organ that can provide policy directions to housing sector,” the minister remarked. He mentioned that most of the housing policies are under review in order to ensure that they are in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in growing the economy and creating job opportunities for Nigerians.   The minister also noted that reviewing these policies would create enabling environment that could lead to economic growth, adding, that, it would be a catalyst for job creation and lifting Nigerians out of poverty.   On the housing collapse that has become ubiquitous in Nigeria, the minister assured them that the ministry would look into it, noting that, with the collective inputs of the professionals in the built environment and State Commissioners of housing, the ministry will come up with policies on how to curtail the menace.   Speaking earlier, the President of Nigeria Institute of Architects, Arc. Enyi Ben-Eboh, listed areas impeding the practice of architecture in Nigeria which he urged the Minster to look into.   Arc Ben-Eboh mentioned amongst others; * Regulating the influx of building materials by working with Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to create a unit that will solely deal on building materials coming into the country; * Reviewing the National Housing Policy in a way that it would be beneficial to Architects; * Soliciting for a policy that could be making funding for housing on the " first line of charge'; * The Ministry of Housing to come up with policy to regulate the activities of  private developers in Nigeria; *  Appropriate and befitting career placement for Architects in the Ministry to ensure professional development and speedy career progression.   The NIA President also urged the minister to ensure that Architects are critically involved in the National Development Plan (2021-2025) to help the federal government to achieve the mandate of providing 500, 000 - 1 million houses yearly.   The NIA President also expressed his desire to resuscitate the regular meeting of Chief Architects of Nigeria which he said  would enable positive practice of Architecture in the country.   Arc. Eboh further proposed the establishment of the Office of Architect General of the Federation to oversee the members and their operation in Nigeria. ...

Dangiwa Reiterates Commitment to Land Use Reforms and Adequate Housing Data The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has pledged his commitment to working with stakeholders and the National Assembly to ensure that the country's Land Use Act is comprehensively reviewed and amended. This initiative aims to update the laws guiding housing, access to land, compensation, resettlement, and other land-related matters in line with current realities. The Minister gave this assurance during a meeting with a World Bank delegation at the ministry's headquarters in Abuja on Monday, 4th September 2023.   Arc. Dangiwa observed that key provisions of the Act, including those related to compensation, are obsolete and lack relevance in guiding land-related matters in today's Nigeria. "I have already issued a directive to the Directors of the Department of Land and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning to develop a robust framework for engaging the National Assembly and stakeholders in reviewing the Land Use Act."   While addressing the issue of the housing deficit, the Minister emphasized the importance of instituting a sustainable framework that generates credible, reliable, and scientific data to guide policy formulation. He stated that he has already moved beyond simply discussing the problem to taking action by engaging the National Population Commission to leverage the forthcoming population census to obtain baseline scientific data about the state of housing conditions in Nigeria.   The visit by the World Bank team aimed to brief the new ministers on the existing collaboration between the World Bank and the ministry, ongoing projects and programs in the housing, land, urban development, and mortgage finance sectors, as well as discuss avenues for further collaborations.   The leader of the delegation, Michael Ilesanmi, noted that discussions with the ministry on land acquisition, resettlement, and compensation began in 2014, with a deepening of these discussions in 2022.   "Land remains a significant issue in the sector. The Land Use Act faces various challenges, and while realities have changed since its enactment in 1978, not much has changed with the Act. I believe there are opportunities to revise the Act to make it more relevant today," he said. He added that the issues surrounding acquisition, resettlement, and compensation are hindering development.   The World Bank team also expressed concern about the inadequate processes and standards used in determining replacement costs and compensation rates, which further exacerbate the challenges in land development. "You can obtain the legal license, but without the social license, you cannot operate effectively," said Ilesanmi.   While the World Bank offered its commitment to provide technical and knowledge assistance to the ministry when called upon, it called for a systematic approach to dealing with the numerous challenges in the land and housing sector.   The minister further assured the team that his leadership is determined to address all the challenges confronting the sector, as well as looking into the foreclosure law, which is essential for the growth of the mortgage industry. He also noted that the ministry will collaborate with relevant agencies in the area of policy development to ensure urban planning receives adequate attention, adding that the retreat for state officials of urban planning scheduled to take place in October 2023 will be one way to discuss strategies to tackle the challenge of unplanned cities. ...

Dangiwa Assumes Office, Pledges Bold Vision for Affordable Housing and Urban Development On Monday, August 21, 2023, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa officially assumed office as the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, pledging to realize President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bold vision for housing and urban renewal.   Addressing top ministry officials, heads of agencies, and staff, Arc. Dangiwa underscored the important role of the Ministry in ensuring all Nigerian have access to decent, quality, and affordable housing while fostering livable communities.   To execute this mandate effectively, the Minister said he will prioritize creating an enabling environment to encourage increased private sector participation and investment, along with the formulation of policies that empower agencies supervised by the ministry to optimize their performance according to their designated functions.   "I believe that the responsibility of this Ministry is to create an enabling environment and formulate policies that empower agencies under its supervision to perform their functions optimally. This will be a central focus of my leadership, and I urge you all to work in alignment with this vision," he declared.   Acknowledging the challenges arising from rapid population growth and increasing housing demands, Arc. Dangiwa pledged to seize these challenges as opportunities for growth and progress. He committed to championing strategic housing reforms to dismantle barriers hindering housing and urban development.   Notably, he disclosed plans to work closely with the National Assembly to review relevant laws to streamline land and housing administration and increase investments in the housing sector.   He also said he will prioritize the N500 billion recapitalization of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), to enable the bank offer more affordable mortgage loans and foster homeownership.   The minister also revealed plans to accelerate the reform of the FMBN and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) so they can have the necessary capacity, and the technological edge to deliver world class services to Nigerians.   He additionally pledged to embrace innovative financing solutions for housing construction and to collaborate with relevant institutions to secure funding for large-scale affordable housing projects nationwide.   The minister said he unveil a comprehensive Strategic Housing and Urban Development Blueprint in the coming days. This blueprint is expected to outline detailed priorities, initiatives, reforms, and plans to reshape the nation's housing landscape. ...