Housing Ministry Launches Portal to Track, Report Fraudulent Practices in Real Estate Sector   * Ministry guided by 2012 National Housing Policy for firmer regulation of housing industry - Dangiwa    * Introduces Innovative Application of Contract Performance and Compliance Monitoring System to strengthen projects oversight The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has launched a Housing Fraud Reporting web-based platform aimed at allowing citizens to report incidents of fraud in housing estates.   The platform with the sub-domain name https://reports.fmhud.gov.ng, enables users to submit complaints and share relevant evidences and information on fraudulent practices in the real estate sector, in the country.   In his remarks during the live presentation of the Fraud Detection and Reporting System Web Portal, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, stated that the Ministry was guided by the 2012 National Housing Policy to commence firmer regulation of the housing industry.    " The policy mandates the government to establish an efficient administrative, legal and regulatory framework to enforce the control and monitoring of housing delivery, ensure that all persons who offer professional services in the built environment are properly registered with their professional bodies" he stated    Other mandates in the policy according to the Minister include: strengthening oversight of estate developers through certification and regulation under the authority of the Ministry, as well as moving towards creating a National Housing and Urban Development Regulatory Commission to provide overall coordination of the sector.   “This will mean closer scrutiny of developers, tighter monitoring of real estate practices, and stronger enforcement against fraudulent actors”, he explained.   Dangiwa expressed optimism that the Housing Fraud Detection and Reporting Portal will help to achieve the  mandate; “It will empower Nigerians to report fraud, track cases, and strengthen transparency in real estate transactions”, he remarked.   While decrying that hardworking citizens have overtime fallen prey to fraudulent practices, sharp operators, and unscrupulous individuals in the real estate industry,. Dangiwa informed that the current administration through the Ministry, has taken bold steps to shine a light on the activities of real estate practitioners and to ensure that Nigerians are protected.   He further explained “The Housing Fraud Detection and Reporting Portal provides a credible, safe, and transparent channel for Nigerians to report fraudulent practices, track cases, and help government take decisive action against culprits”   Accordingly, the Minister firmly warned that sharp practices will not be tolerated in housing sector, adding that the Ministry will work with professional bodies, law enforcement agencies, and the judiciary to ensure that offenders face the full weight of the law.   He commended the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore for his leadership in driving the initiative, the Committee members for their tireless efforts, as well as the Consultant for providing the technical expertise to make the system a reality.   “Our goal is simple: a housing sector where Nigerians can invest and own homes with confidence, free from fear of fraud. This is how we will protect our people, restore trust, and move closer to the vision of safe, decent and affordable housing for all" he said.   In his introductory remarks, Deputy Director and Head, Information and Communication and Technology (ICT) Department, Dr. Marcus Amiolemen, revealed that the Housing Fraud Reporting System was developed in partnership with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).    He described the platform as a simple, user-friendly online tool that empowers citizens to report incidents of fraud in the real estate sector.   Dr. Amiolemen explained that the system, which can be accessed via https://reports.fmhud.gov.ng/, gives Nigerians the opportunity to submit complaints and provide vital information on fraudulent practices in the housing industry.   According to him, the Ministry will carefully review the reports received on the platform, and work closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure that proper investigations and actions are taken.   Earlier in a related development, the Director also spoke about the introduction of Contract Performance and Compliance Project Monitoring System (CPCPMS), noting that the innovative application is designed to strengthen projects’ monitoring and oversight, while improving service delivery to citizens.    He pointed out that the CPCPMS comes with several notable features, including: a real-time dashboard and analytics module for easy visualization of project data; a contractor performance module guided by Key Performance Indicators (KPIs);    Other features are mobile field reporting that allows staff, engineers, and supervisors to upload photos and progress updates directly from project sites; as well as a centralized document repository that provides secure access to contracts’ payment certificates, and Bills of Quantities (BoQs).   Dr. Amiolemen reaffirmed that both platforms underscored the commutment of the Ministry to promoting transparency, enhancing accountability, and protecting citizens from sharp practices in the housing sector.   The launch event featured a detailed explanation on the use of the websites by the consultants; Messrs Freestone Investments Limited and Messrs Prunedge Development Technologies Limited. ...

Housing Ministry Recognises,  Celebrates Outstanding Staff Members    * Recognition Award strengthens service delivery - Perm Sec   In line with acknowledging and honoring dedication to service, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has recognized and awarded some outstanding staffers from different departments for their exceptional performances, hard work and commitment to effective service delivery.   The colourful award ceremony which was presided by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Shuaib Belgore took place at the Conference hall of the Ministry and had the Directors and Heads of Departments of the Ministry, as well as members of staff in attendance     Dr. Belgore, in his remarks noted that the purpose of the award ceremony was to strengthen service delivery, adding that staff good qualities were among the parameters for selection in addition to perfirmances    He refered to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation Award given to one of the Ministry’s staff, and encouraged other Staff to work towards receiving more of such recognitions that would put the Ministry on the limelight.   Dr. Belgore informed that the Civil Service awards is an innovation which is part of staff welfare, recognizing hard working staff in delivering the mandate of the Ministry to make housing affordable for Nigerians and reduce housing deficit in the country.   “ You all in your own little space can make a difference, never minding what another person is doing”, he said.   Accordingly,  he explained that the Ministry’s monthly award for best staff from each department, would culminate in an annual award; “we are going to have awardees every month and at the end of the year, we would aggregate all awards and bring one person as the overall best staff in the Ministry, as well as overall best staff at the departmental level ”, he explained.   While commending the Director of the Reform Coordination and Service Improvement Department for excellent works, he announced that the Ministry would also institute best department awards, as well as the best director, with handsome rewards attached   The Permanent Secretary further informed that aside the staff recognition award, staff members can also win an innovation award by bringing new ways and ideas to drive the system forward.   “The rewards for this are just as big in the overall civil service consideration as that of recognition of staff performance, you can win a house, a car and plenty of money, I want to go and celebrate my staff there”, he remarked.   Dr. Belgore thanked the awardees for what they do for the Ministry and Nigeria at large, especially at a time that the country is going through rough times, adding that the awardees would be given training priority, capturing them in the first batch upon commencement when funds are available.   Earlier in her remarks, the Head of, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement, Ibifuro Philips-Ogoniba reteirated that the monthly staff recognition is a reminder that hard work and commitment are not just good habits, but are building blocks of effective service delivery.    While noting that meaningful reforms starts with personal discipline, professionalism and commitment to support others, she stated that each awardee has shown a clear commitment to value which directly improves the ministry's function.    She congratulated the awardees, commending them for setting a standard and dedication to both their departments and ministry, further encouraging others to be inspired by the staff recognition, and strive for excellence in various departments and the nation at large.   Mrs Philips-Ogoniba also emphasized that the innovative idea for Staff of the month predates the Service Wide Award which has been expanded into four categories namely: staff of the month, mentorship, best dressed and most punctual.    She informed that the award ceremony is in line with the OHCSF directive, through which awards will be rerouted henceforth and domiciled at the Ministerial Award Selection Committee (MASCO) chaired by Director of Human Resources Management department.   Speaking on behalf of the awardees Dr. Ibrahim Kogbe, who was the winner of the EPIC award for the 2025 International Civil Service Day, expressed appreciation to the leadership of the ministry for recognizing their efforts through the Staff of the Month award celebration.   He appreciated the Permanent Secretary for his leadership, support and encouragement, and thanked the management for creating a culture that celebrates excellence.   Dr. Kogbe further affirmed the commitment of the awardees to keep giving their best to service.   “This recognition is not just an award; it is a strong motivation for us to keep giving our best to the service of our nation". He said. ...

Dangiwa Marks 2 Years in Office   * Bold Reforms, Tackling Systemic Housing and Urban Development Challenges   The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development today marks the second anniversary of the Honourable Minister, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, in office. Since his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on August 22, 2023, Arc. Dangiwa has in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda led a historic reset of Nigeria’s housing and urban development sector, rolling out bold reforms and practical solutions that are directly tackling systemic challenges and delivering results in record time.   One of the most pressing problems has been Nigeria’s housing deficit, conservatively estimated at over 17 million units. In response, the Ministry launched the Renewed Hope Housing Programme (REHHP), a three-tier model comprising Cities, Estates, and Social Housing. In just two years, over 10,000 housing units have been commenced across 14 states and the FCT—an unprecedented pace compared to the 3,500 units delivered in the eight years before this administration. Flagship projects include a 3,112-unit Renewed Hope City in Karsana, Abuja; a 2,000-unit City in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos; a 1,500-unit City in Kano with an additional 500-unit estate; and 250-unit estates in twelve states ranging from Osun and Delta to Katsina and Nasarawa.   Linked to the housing deficit is the challenge of deteriorating slums and decaying urban infrastructure. To reverse decades of neglect, the Ministry has implemented the National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade Programme (NURSUP), which has already transformed more than 150 communities nationwide with rehabilitated roads, drainages, clean water, solar electricity, schools, and healthcare centres.   Another obstacle has been the weakness of Nigeria’s mortgage and housing finance system, which for decades made homeownership unaffordable for most Nigerians. Under President Tinubu’s directive, reforms of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) have strengthened and expanded single-digit mortgages, zero-down-payment rent-to-own schemes, and innovative public-private partnership models that have mobilised over ₦70 billion in private capital for housing delivery.   For low-income and vulnerable Nigerians, who have historically been excluded from the housing market, the Ministry’s proposed Renewed Hope Social Housing Programme represents a bold new response. Its target is to deliver 77,400 affordable homes—100 in each of the 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria with an affordability based pricing model. Beyond shelter, this initiative is expected to generate over 2 million jobs, empower local economies, and spread development beyond major cities into rural and peri-urban communities.   But building homes is not enough without secure access to land. Today, over 96% of land in Nigeria remains untitled and undocumented, locking away billions in potential wealth as “dead capital.” To address this, the Ministry is working with stakeholders to implement the Nigeria Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme (Land4Growth), which will digitise registries, streamline approvals, and unlock more than $300 billion in dormant assets. This represents the most strategic and impactful initiative that would accelerate the actualization of the Renewed Hope Target of a  $1Trillion Dollar GDP for the country.    Another gap that long constrained effective housing delivery in Nigeria was the absence of credible, reliable data. Planning and investment decisions were often made in the dark. To fix this, the Ministry led efforts with industry stakeholders to establish the National Housing Data Centre (NHDC) Project —a centralised digital repository of housing, land, and urban development data. The NHDC is at advanced stage of providing real-time, evidence-based insights to guide government policy, attract private sector investment, and support international partners. For the first time, Nigeria is building a modern, data-driven housing ecosystem where progress can be tracked transparently and decisions made on solid evidence   Equally critical has been the spiralling cost of building materials, which pushes homeownership further out of reach. The Ministry’s response has been a bold plan to establish Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs in all six geo-political zones. These hubs would boost local production, reducing dependence on imports, cutting costs by up to 25%, and creating thousands of manufacturing and logistics jobs.   Years of housing fraud and abandoned projects also eroded public trust in government-backed housing schemes. To restore confidence, the Ministry has finalized a Housing Fraud Reporting Platform (HFRP) to enable citizens to report fraudulent developers and schemes. In addition, the Safeguarding FG Lands Initiative, launched with the Nigeria Police, will lead to the recovery of billions of naira worth of encroached Federal Government land for redevelopment into housing and infrastructure projects.   At the same time, the shortage of skilled workers in the construction sector has been a major barrier to quality and timely housing delivery. Through the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP – CraftHub), thousands of young Nigerians would be trained as carpenters, plumbers, masons, and electricians and directly linked to housing projects nationwide.   To sustain momentum, the Ministry has also deepened partnerships with international development finance institutions. A landmark agreement with Shelter Afrique Development Bank will finance 5,000 affordable homes, while collaborations with UN-Habitat, World Bank would see the channeling technical and financial support to scale housing and urban reforms across the country.   Reflecting on this milestone, Arc. Dangiwa said:   “We inherited a housing sector riddled with systemic challenges. In just two years, through the support of Mr. President and our partners, we have rolled out strategic programmes that are delivering results. We are not just building houses; we are building hope, dignity, and prosperity for millions of Nigerians. And we are only just beginning.”   As the Honourable Minister marks his second year in office, the Ministry reaffirms its commitment to scaling up delivery under the Renewed Hope Agenda, ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of income or status, can aspire to own a decent and dignified home. ...