Dangiwa Receives Railway Workers  Union, Reaffirms Commitment to Workers’ Housing Needs    Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has played host to the leadership of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Workers Union on a courtesy visit to his office penultimate weekend   The Minister,  in his remarks, reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to providing affordable housing for Nigerian workers, including staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).   Arc. Dangiwa, who warmly welcomed the union leaders, commended them for their visit and for prioritizing the welfare of their members through advocacy for home ownership.   He noted that under the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the ministry is determined to ensure that every committed Nigerian worker has access to decent and affordable housing before retirement.   "Our goal is to make home ownership a reality for all categories of workers, including those in the Nigerian Railway Corporation. No worker should retire without a roof over their head,”  the minister said.   The minister further directed the leadership of the union to compile and submit a comprehensive list of it's members of staff interested in the housing opportunities under any of the ministry’s housing programme for proper consideration.   Accordingly,  Dangiwa assured the union leadership that the ministry would explore viable frameworks to integrate their members into the existing and upcoming social housing schemes.   Earlier, the Chairman of the NRC Workers Union, Comrade Kazeem Yusuf, had informed the minister that the purpose of the visit was to seek collaboration with the ministry in securing housing allocations for railway workers in Abuja and other major cities   ...

Belgore Flags Off Personnel Audit, Skills Gap Analysis (PASGA) Project    * says lack of professionals makes projects supervision cumbersome for the Ministry    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, has flagged off the Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis (PAGSA) Project for the Ministry, Thursday,  October 16th, 2025.   PASGA is an important part of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 25), being anchored by the Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation.   It is a verification exercise that is aimed at verifying and updating personnel records, identifying skills and capacity gaps, as well as supporting workforce planning and reforms, of all civil servants of the federation.   Making his remarks, the Permanent Secretary highlighted the primary mandate of the ministry in providing affordable housing for Nigerians, acknowledging the hard work put into achieving the mandate by the staff of the ministry.   He informed that the Ministry was grossly understaffed, having lost over 1,600 staff members due to retirement in the last year and a half, and this he said has led to missing skills and gaps opening up at Ministry including states field offices.   Belgore further explained that lack of professionals on the ground makes projects supervision cumbersome for the ministry, saying that the Ministry often deploys officers from the headquarters for site inspections across the states.   " The Ministry is interested to partner with the Georgid Consultants to ensure strengthening the identified gaps and build capacity for the Ministry" he stated.   Dr. Belgore charged the team of consultants to be very detailed in the conduct of the verification exercise, he said “get exactly what our strengths are across the headquarters and all our offices and we will be very interested to have you present some of your findings to us”, he said.   He noted that the exercise was a very important part of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 25), in the sense that it is about capacity and building human resources for the next generation.   Accordingly, he mandated every staff of the Ministry to coorporate fully with the team of consultants for the exercise, adding that the team will also be inspected to ensure that they achieve the mandate of the ministry.    Belgore pledged full support of the Ministry to the Consultant to deliver the assignment.   Earlier, the CEO of the Georgid Consulting, Isaac Idontenyi noted that it was essential to carry out an effective and efficient verification exercise as the initiative aims to reposition and transform the Federal Civil Service for national transformation and growth.   While stating that the physical verification process will begin on Monday, with a designated venue and collaborative efforts of directors of the Ministry, he outlined the broad scope of the exercise which includes data collection, performance management, leadership and succession planning, training, recruitment, and placement.   He also explained that the verification process will use a technology tool to capture information, ensuring data integrity and coverage across the country.   In his welcome address, the acting Director Human Resource Management, Ayodele Ademola, noted that the exercise marks a significant step in the collective effort to strengthen institutional capacity, enhance efficiency, and align the Ministry’s human resources with its renewed mandate under the present administration.   He said the initiative underscores the commitment of the Head of Service to accountability, transparency, and excellence in service delivery.    “It will also ensure that our human capital remains a strategic driver of the Ministry's vision for sustainable housing and urban development across Nigeria”, he stated.   ...

Housing Ministry, NDDC Explores Partnership Opportunities For Housing Schemes    The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) are exploring areas of mutual cooperation in the provision of affordable housing for the Niger Delta region.   This was the outcome of the meeting between the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and the Housing Minister, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa.     The MD NDDC paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development to discuss areas of common interest between the two government agencies.   Some of the key aspects of the NDDC mandates include: infrastructure development; human capital development,  environmental management, master planning and social welfare for the citizens of the region.   In his remarks, Minister Dangiwa highlighted the importance of the NDDC as a critical intervention institution in Nigeria, serving communities for nearly 25 years and contributing to the country’s economic lifeblood.   “Your ongoing reforms to complete abandoned projects, improve transparency, and strengthen governance are truly commendable, they embody the results-oriented, accountable, and people-focused service that this administration expects from every federal agency, he added.   The Minister noted that the both institutions shared a common vision of improving living conditions through housing, infrastructure, and sustainable community development.   He said, “While your mandate focuses on the Niger Delta region, our Ministry provides the national frameworks and standards that can help amplify your impact”.   Dangiwa told the MD that, the Ministry, under the first phase of Renewed Hope Housing Programme is currently constructing three housing estates comprising 250-unit each in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Warri in Delta State and in Bende, Abia State, in the Niger Delta region.   “Across the country, we are currently implementing the first phase of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programme with 17 active construction sites, delivering a total of over 10000 units nationwide", Dangiwa stated.   Accordingly, he informed that Port Harcourt, Rivers state, was in view as one of the next sites for a Renewed Hope City, as part of the Ministry’s multi-city rollout; according to him, “this city will adopt the same integrated model we are building in Abuja, Kano, and Lagos states”.   The Minister further highlighted possible areas for collaboration between the two parties to include; co-developing affordable, climate-resilient housing prototypes, tailored to the unique terrain of the Niger Delta communities, aligning NDDC’s community infrastructure projects with the National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade Programme.   Others are joint training and certification of Niger Delta youths in construction-related trades through the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme, joint land administration and spatial planning support to promote organized and resilient settlements in NDDC community development projects, among others.   The Minister assured the MD of the readiness of the Ministry to support the regional commission in its quest of providing affordable and decent housing for its citizens in fulfilment of part of its mandate.   Earlier In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, infomed that the purpose of their visit was to explore partnership opportunities especially in housing schemes to achieve the government’s Renewed Hope Housing agenda, for the people of the Niger Delta.   He highlighted the importance of partnerships, particularly inter agency collaborations, stating that they make projects faster and cheaper.   While emphasizing on the role of effective mortgage systems in reducing corruption by providing affordable housing options, the MD acknowledged the presence of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) in the meeting, saying that creating subsidies will make mass housing more affordable.   Dr. Ogbuku further expressed the commitment of his team to collaborate with the Ministry to achieve the government's housing goals.   The Executive Director, Business Development and Portfolio Management, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Chinyere Chinedu Anosike, commended the MD of the NDDC for his contributions at the commission so far.   She noted that the bank has many projects in the Niger Delta area, and expressed their readiness to collaborate with the NDDC on the projects.   The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry,  Dr. Shuaib Belgore, noted the alignment of NDDC's mandate with that of the ministry in providing affordable housing, and facilitating urban development, across the country.   Represented by the Director office of the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Funsho Alabi, Belgore acknowledged the importance of effective collaboration among government institutions, saying that "it's key to achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu".   “We in the Ministry are keen to explore areas of mutual cooperation with the NDDC, especially in the provision of mass and social housing, urban regeneration, and sustainable settlement planning within the Niger Delta region”, he stated. ...