Housing Ministry, World Bank Collaborate on National Land Documentation, Titling Programme.   *  move can unlock $300 Billion in Dead Capital * Sues for establishment of National Land Commission to operationalise Land Use Act   The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has announced plans to partner with the World Bank Group towards conducting a National Land Documentation and Titling Programme in the country.   Speaking at the Workshop Nigerian Livable Cities organised by the Ministry in collaboration with the World Bank, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, said the move has become necessary to explore the potential of land as an economic asset which is yet to be fully tapped by the country.   The event, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, was aimed at fostering understanding and mapping out modalities towards the successful implementation of the World Bank’s Urban Livability and Mobility programme in Nigeria.    "It is a comprehensive initiative that encompasses sub-programs that are very important to us. This includes housing and land management, urban services delivery, climate change action, urban management and finance, and transportation," Dangiwa noted.   In the area of land, he deferred to statistics which show that less than 10% of land in Nigeria is registered and has titles. "As a result, landowners cannot easily leverage land as an economic asset. This is sad and unfortunate. As part of our land reforms we are exploring a partnership with the World Bank towards the implementation of a National Land Registration and Titling Programme.   "Through this programme, we aim to partner with State Governments towards improving land formalisation from less than 10% to 50% in the next ten years. This is critical to unlocking over $300bn in dead capital. We have already worked on a draft framework for the programme and I have directed the Ministry’s focal persons and Consultant to share with the World Bank Group so we can begin the process towards adoption and implementation," he said.   He added that the programme is an  important component in the Ministry's land reforms strategy and will complement the Ministry’s plans to set up a National Land Commission to operationalize the Land Use Act.   The Nigeria Urban Livability and Mobility Programmatic Analytics and Advisory Services (ULM PASA) was launched by the World Bank to provide the Federal and State governments with technical support to improve the design and implementation of development policies and programs in selected Nigerian cities to enhance their livability, competitiveness and resilience.   To this end, the Minister said "the workshop provides a platform to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and forge partnerships that will propel our cities towards sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth. We must harness the power of collaboration and leverage the expertise and experience of the World Bank to develop innovative solutions that address the multifaceted problems facing our cities."   Dangiwa took out time to reel out the efforts of the Federal Government towards developing livable and sustainable cities, including the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programme which aims to deliver 50,000 housing units in the first phase.    He explained "Our cities, once strongholds of economic growth and social progress, are now grappling with an array of complexities: rapid urbanization, infrastructure deficits, environmental degradation, climate change, housing deficit, poor service delivery and social inequality. These challenges, while daunting, also present immense opportunities for innovation and transformation.   Accordingly, the Minister stated also that establishing new cities and estates provides an opportunity for deliberate planning and designing of urban spaces that are not only beautiful in addition to landscape, but also promote efficiency and sustainability.   Stating further " This is more so given the climate challenges that we face in ensuring that the housing sector contributes its quota to helping our country meet its green gas reduction targets. At the Ministry, we believe that implementing green building techniques, efficient waste management, and creating green spaces can contribute to a healthier and more environmentally friendly urban landscape”.   The World Bank Task Team Leader, Fuad Malkawi, presented the preliminary findings of the World Bank analytical review of Nigerian cities which he said were at the risk of disaster exposure due to inadequate infrastructure and basic social services as a result of rapid growth.   The workshop had two panel discussion sessions on; key priorities of state governments to improve Urban Livability and on Institutional Constrains to Improving Urban Livability. Participants at the workshop include states' commissioners and senior government officials responsible for lands, environment and housing matters.   States that attended the workshop were; Anambra, Abia, Edo, Kaduna. Kano,  Lagos, Oyo, Rivers and Plateau    The main objective was helping Nigerian cities to become more livable through collaborative deliberation on key urban policies, challenges, and institutional barriers hindering the effective implementation of urban development programs at the state and city levels.   Recommendations presented at the end of the workshop include; addressing the challenges of inaccurate data, reducing pressure on existing services due to rapid urban growth through adequate urban planning, controlling development along flood plains, developing programmes in line with government policies to drive urban livability, investing in climate smart infrastructure and services through prioritization process, and facilitating the review of the Land Use Act 1978 (1999 as amended).   Others are the development of a Drainage Master Plan for flood control, and a National Urban Programme to operationalize the National Urban Development Policy, the creation of City Administrations by State Governments backed by political will and Legal framework and improving their roles in service delivery, as well as integrating disaster resilience and early warning systems with State development plans, among others. ...

Ministry of Finance Incorporated Explores Collaborative Areas with Housing Ministry   *  We have Structures on ground to leverage on -  Dangiwa *      FMHUD, Key Collaborator -  MOFI   Minister of Housing and Urban Development Arc Ahmed Dangiwa has told the Ministry of Finance incorporated (MOFI) that housing ministry has so many existing structures on ground for MOFI to leverage on, in its quest to carry out its supervising function of government enterprises.   Dangiwa stated this when he received members of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) on a visit to his ministry and presented a strategic partnership proposal to the ministry    MOFI, is a subsidiary under the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, responsible for supervising assets and investments of the federal government owned enterprises, interests, estates and rights.    The Minister told MOFI that, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), an Agency under the Housing Ministry has branches in all the 36 States of the federation, including  lands with various mortgages to cater for the housing needs of Nigerians, urging MOFI to work with FHA regardless of their developers to create a healthy competition.   He said "most of the federal government assets are being managed by the ministry of housing and urban development.   " One of the deliverables of the ministry under this administration is reforming the Housing Institutions and the ministry is doing everything possible to recapitalize the Federal Mortgage Bank. FHA has been partially commercialized to invest in the capital market by constructing and selling  houses", he stated    In the same vein, Dangiwa disclosed that, the Ministry plans to generate Two Trillion Real Estate Investment, which is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 's Renewed Hope agenda and inorder to make this a reality, he added that the ministry decided to partner with Public Private Partnership which is the biggest aspect of the funding structure.     Speaking earlier, the Chief Executive Officer and managing Director of the MOFI, Dr. Armstrong Ume Takang, told the Minister that the essence of their visit was to support what Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is doing to use government platform to  mobilize funds.    He explained that proper Titles to Assets especially landed properties can unlock capital to do other things, adding that most properties both in rural and urban areas don't have proper titles including  government properties.   The MD described the ministry of housing as a key collaborator in achieving their primary objective of long term, low- cost mortgage financing at scale for Nigerians.   He stated that asset optimization in line with National Housing and Urban Development goals, facilitates capital base for housing and urban development renewal and ensures seemless integration between asset management and urban planning initiatives.   Dr. Takang further disclosed that MOFI's aim is to create jobs through construction and urban development projects, skills development programs in real estate and property management, as well as affordable housing initiatives for low and middle income families.   " There should be a Mechanism where people can find affordable loans with long term payment plan of monthly payment, in that case, the demand will be high and when demands are high you are creating more jobs for developers, not only meeting the demands but also improving Urban development", he explained    "We need more money to build houses, we need more money to provide mortgages, we need to be creative on how we source the money", He added.   ...

We are Set to Deliver 1000 Housing Units In Five Months Time - Dangiwa    … says housing ministry can generate N300bn from sale of houses in two years    Minister of Housing and Urban Development has disclosed that 1000 housing units of the Renewed Hope Cities is slated to be delivered by the end of the year, with the other units to be delivered by mid next year for commissioning by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the pilot phase of the project in Karsana Abuja.   The Minister made this disclosure while briefing the Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, during their oversight visit to the Ministry.   He explained that a consortium of developers were contracted to deliver a total of 100,000 housing units all over the federation under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programme, 20,000 units of which will be in Abuja with the pilot phase at Karsana to house 3112 housing units.   He also noted that the developers are to provide the financing for the units, the land and off-takers, while the Ministry guarantees their loan with bankable off-takers guarantee, to enable them access the finance.   Dangiwa made a comprehensive three dimensional presentation of the work ongoing at the Renewed Hope City site in Karsana to the Senate Committee, stating that the developers have accessed funding through Family Homes funds and other means, and are on site working to ensure they deliver in due time.   He informed that a steering committee comprising the honourable Ministers, the Permanent Secretary and the consortium of developers was set up, as well as a monitoring committee made up of officials from the Ministry, Federal Mortgage Bank, Family Home Funds, the developers and other institutions, who monitors the projects on a weekly basis.   The Minister during his briefing, presented some documents earlier requested by the Senate Committee to include: a comprehensive briefing of the activities of the Ministry, the budget performance of 2023 and 2024 appropriation act covering all budget lines including the 2023 supplementary budget act, a detailed implementation of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programme.   Others are; detailed implementation of the Renewed Hope Urban Renewal and Slum upgrade programme, detailed progress report of the National Housing Programme Nationwide, a list of the federal government properties under the control of the Ministry Nationwide, details of partnership between the Ministry and the private sector or other public institution for urban development, amongst others.   While fielding questions from the journalists during the oversight visit, the Housing Minister was delighted to inform that the Senate Committee advocated for more funding for the Ministry to the tune of N500bn, further expressing hope that the Ministry can return up to N300bn to the coffers of government from the sale of houses in two years time, if given a budgetary allocation of N500bn.   He also noted with gladness that the ongoing efforts of the Ministry were highly appreciated by the Senate Committee, having done groundbreaking for the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates in 13 sites which is funded by the 2023 supplementary budget.   “We also took them through the public private partnerships that we are doing with some of the reputable developers to which Karsana is one of it where we are building 3112 unit; we have discussed also about the Slum Upgrade and Urban Renewal which cuts across 28 sites across the country. Most of these projects are almost completed and we are about to commence the 2024 budget”, he added.   On their part, the chairman of the committee on lands, housing and Urban Development Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, noted that their visit signaled the commencement of oversight activities of the committee for the 2023 supplementary and 2024 budget, pointing out that committees of the senate are saddled with the responsibility of oversighting the activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies under them, as required under the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.   He said that the 2023 supplementary budget has advanced, hence the need to visit the ministry and proceed to some sites where the appropriations are being implemented to see for themselves and access what is going on.   Tambuwal thanked the Minister for his cooperation, adding that it was in the interest of the country to make sure that monies appropriated are spent in accordance with extant laws and regulations.   He as well consented that more funds needs to be allocated to the Ministry giving that housing is one sector that will generally distribute wealth to the lowest of the low. ...