Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Aliyu, 7 Others Honoured by Unimaid Alumni

The Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing , Engr. Abubakar  D. Aliyu and seven other eminent Nigerians were conferred with Outstanding Achievement Award by the University of Maiduguri Alumni Association.

The award was conferred  on him at the Maiden End of Year Dinner and Awards Night of the University held at Africa Hall, International Conference Center, Abuja on Friday, November 15, 2019.

The newly elected Executives of the Alumni Association of the Federal Capital Territory Chapter  was also inaugurated at the award night.

The recognition on Engineer Aliyu was  based on his remarkable achievements in his chosen career and well deserved appointment as the Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Engineer Aliyu was described as a shining inspiration to the Alumni and a personality worthy  of emulation.

Special Guest of Honour at the occasion and the President of the Senate, Senator Ibrahim Ahmad Lawan presented the award on the Honourable Minister.

Senator Lawan who was also among the awardees responded on behalf of other recipients  said,  "University of Maiduguri Alumni Association, we cannot thank you enough, those of us that have been given the awards now have additional responsibility, I want to say  we are not going to abuse our positions, we are not going to allow our opportunity slips through our fingers , we will make sure University of  Maiduguri gets the best deal wherever we find ourselves.’'

The Senate President  also remarked that the 9th Assembly was united on national interest and have  resolved to work for Nigeria.

He stated that the economy of Nigeria must work for Nigerians, adding that the senate would  resolve all matters with the executive in national interest.

Ahmad praised President Muhammadu Buhari for showing  tremendous respect for the National Assembly by ensuring that all ministers came to defend their 2020 budgets in  October 2019.

He disclosed that all ministries, departments and agencies defended their 2020 budget proposals successfully, and that the 2020 budget  would be passed in November 2019, so that January to December budget calendar could be maintained.

The Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadiri Mohammed; Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri;  Governor of Borno  State, Babagana Umara Zulum; Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of State for Agriculture, Mustapha Baba Shehuri and Vice Chancellor University of Maiduguri, Professor Aliyu Shugaba were among the eminent personalities honoured at the event

2019 URBAN OCTOBER: FG Calls for Collective Resolve for Sustainable Urban Development

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has called for a collective reflection, stocktaking and strengthening partnerships, to accelerate action in the pursuit for sustainable urban development in Nigeria.

Fashola made the call in his keynote address at the commemoration of the 2019 World Habitat Day and World Cities Day yesterday in Abuja.

The 2019 Urban October has the themes:“Frontier technologies as an innovative tool to transform waste to wealth” and “Changing the World: Innovations and a Better Life for Future Generations “

The Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar D.Aliyu, read the keynote address on behalf of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola,SAN, the Minister of Works and Housing.

Fashola said we all have the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and build the type of cities we desire for our good health and well-being, and for that of our future generation.

Fashola disclosed that in partnership with  UN Habitat  the Federal Government had embarked on the review of the National Urban Development Policy as well as implementing urban renewal and slum upgrading programmes in several urban communities  across the country.

With a view to creating smart and sustainable cities across the nation, the minister maintained that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has not relented in its commitment to making sure that Nigerians have a better life by addressing the housing and infrastructure challenges and those posed by unplanned cities which led to increased slums and shanties.

He listed the various programmes already embarked upon by the Government through his ministry, which include: the on-going National Housing Programme, the launch of the National Maintenance Framework for Public Building as well as the review of the Urban Development Policy.

In his welcome address the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mohammed  Bukar, said the celebration of the World Cities Day around the world was to enable us view cities as drivers and incubators of innovations,  industries, technology, entrepreneurship  and creativity in ground breaking ways to achieve lasting impacts on the communities, and to ensure that "No one and no place is left behind as we build the future we want."

In her goodwill message, the Executive Director, UN HABITAT, Mrs. Maimunah Moh Sharif, called on stakeholders to identify ways to overcome challenges confronting urbanisation in a way that everyone’s life could be improved.

She noted that cities are the best place of innovation and creativity, assuring that UN Habitat would be ready to fully support the Federal Government in her bid to create  sustainable urbanization.

The Chairman Senate committee on Housing, Senator Sam Egwu represented by his Vice, Senator Oyelola Isa Ashiru pledged the Committee’s full support towards achieving a sustainable development of our cities.

The highlights of the event were:the Honourable Minister’s inspection of the exhibition stands and presentation of gifts to students of Witty Might Academy, Holy Child Educational Homes and Fine Trust Academy for song rendition, poem and drama presentation at the 2019 Urban October celebrations.

Welcome Remarks By The Hon. Minister Of State For Housing And Urban Development, Alh. Tijjani Gwarzo At The Official Groundbreaking Ceremony For 250-Housing Units Renewed Hope Estate In Oyo On Tuesday July 9 2024

Protocols

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen. 

I want to begin my remarks by specially welcoming the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde. We are happy to have you here with us today.

It is indeed my pleasure to welcome you all, on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, to the groundbreaking ceremony for the 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estate.

This project is part of a Nationwide Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme of the Ministry, which His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially launched earlier this year in Abuja, under which we plan to deliver 50,000 housing units in phase one.

Our broad aim through this programme is to TURN THE COUNTRY INTO A HUGE CONSTRUCTION SITE, unlock the power of the housing sector to create jobs, boost economic development, and help achieve Mr. President's goal to build a $1 trillion economy. 

This 250-housing units Estate project will create job opportunities during the construction phase for masons, bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, traders, and suppliers of building materials.

We look forward to quality construction work and a timely completion of the project.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to thank you for sparing time out of your very busy schedules to be here with us today.

Thank you, and God bless.
 

Remarks By The Hon. Minister Of Housing And Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, At The Ground-Breaking Of The 250-Housing Unit Renewed Hope Estate In Nasarawa State On Saturday, July 6, 2024

Protocols

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First, I would like to thank His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa  State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule for honoring our invitation to the groundbreaking of a 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estate here in the State’s capital. 

Today’s ceremony is a continuation of the nationwide groundbreaking exercise for housing projects under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, which His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, launched in February with the commissioning of a 3,112-housing unit in Karsana, Abuja.

Under Phase One of this programme, we plan to deliver a total of 50,000 housing units across Nigeria. This includes 7 Renewed Hope Cities that will have between 500 and 1,000 housing units per site in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country and the FCT, while the Renewed Hope Estates will have 250 units per site in the remaining thirty (30) states.

With this housing programme, we plan to unlock the massive potential of housing development to create jobs, uplift lives, and boost economic development. This is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President to STIMULATE INCLUSIVE GROWTH, LIFT 100 MILLION NIGERIANS OUT OF POVERTY, AND BUILD A $1 TRILLION ECONOMY.

As you may recall, last month, following the presidential launch of the programme in Abuja, we embarked on the first leg of this exercise with the groundbreaking of 1,500 housing units in the northern part of Nigeria. This includes 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estates, one each in Katsina, Yobe, Gombe, and Sokoto, and a 500-housing unit Renewed Hope City in Kano. Work is currently ongoing at each of these sites, and our plan is to have all of them completed within the next couple of months and made available to Nigerians in line with Mr. President’s desire to provide quality housing for all Nigerians. UNDER THE RENEWED HOPE AGENDA, WE ARE IMPLEMENTING A ZERO TOLERANCE FOR UNCOMPLETED PROJECTS.
This second leg will see us break ground for a total of 2,000 Renewed Hope Housing Units across eight (8) states in the South and North Central. We started last week Wednesday with 250 units in Ebonyi; Thursday we were in Abia for another 250 units, Friday we were in Akwa Ibom for another 250 units, Saturday we were in Delta State for another 250 units. This week Monday we were in in Osun State to flag off 250 units, yesterday  we were in Benue and today, we are happy to be here in Nasarawa to flag off another 250 units. The next stop from here will be in Oyo to complete this 2nd leg. 

This estate comprises 50 units of 1-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, 150 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, and 50 units of 3-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.

We have designed these housing units in a way that makes them affordable for people to acquire by using organic designs to allow for future expansion as the income of beneficiaries increases. This means that a 1-bedroom unit can be expanded to 2 bedrooms, and a 2-bedroom unit can also be expanded to 3 bedrooms as the owner’s financial situation improves or their family grows.

As we perform this groundbreaking, I want to charge the contractors

1. Messrs ISKAT DESIGN LTD
2. Messrs. SAN AFRAH NIG. LTD and
3.    Messrs. AL-YUMA VENTURE AND INVESTMENT LTD

to ensure that they build according to specifications. I want to emphasize in very strong terms that we will not tolerate substandard work from any developer, and we will explore all necessary legal means, to ensure that they deliver as per the contract. IF YOU COLLECT GOVERNMENT MONEY, YOU MUST DO THE WORK.
We also want the developers to adhere to the timeline and finish within three months so that we can begin the process of getting Nasarawa indigenes to purchase and move in.

To ensure affordability, we have created different options to enable everyone who has a source of income and livelihood to own these homes when they are completed. These include single-digit mortgage loans that beneficiaries can repay over 30 years, rent-to-own schemes provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and outright purchase options for those who can afford to pay upfront.

Statistics show that the construction of one housing unit creates an average of 25 direct and indirect jobs. So, for these 250 housing units in Nasarawa, we hope to create jobs for over 6,500 people in various trades, from professionals like architects, civil engineers, and mechanical engineers to masons, plumbers, tilers, electricians, and laborers. We have seen unskilled workers at other project sites earning as much as N35,000 per week, at an average of N5,000 per day. This amounts to about N140,000 per month.

This is in addition to the economic activities, including those selling food, supplying blocks, and providing building materials. The value chain effect of construction work on this site is significant and creates a positive economic impact.
I want to state that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development are very particular about giving Nigerians value for money. We are diligently funding these projects from the N50 billion 2023 Supplementary Budget that Mr. President approved for the Ministry to ensure sustainability, quality, and geographic spread.

It is important to say that the provision of land in a good location and at no cost is a key condition for siting Renewed Hope Housing Projects. The twelve states covered under this 2023 supplementary budget are those that first provided land. I want to assure that states that have not been covered will be included in the Ministry’s 2024 Budget on a first-come, first-served basis, on the condition that they provide land at no cost to enhance affordability.

At this juncture, I want to appreciate and thank His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency Engr. Abdullahi Sule for promptly granting our request for the provision of land at no cost. This singular action has helped us to reduce as much as 30% of the cost of the units in this Estate for the benefit of potential homeowners. This is a dividend of responsible governance and I applaud Your Excellency for this. 

Before I close my remarks, I want to thank and appreciate our President for providing the vision and the political will necessary for us to make a difference in terms of delivering decent and quality housing to Nigerians. The Groundbreaking ceremonies for these projects demonstrate that Mr. President and indeed the federal government of Nigeria is committed to fulfilling promises and responsibilities to all Nigerians.

Long live Nasarawa State and His Excellency, the Executive Governor.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Long live Mr. President.