Minister of Housing Orders Investigation on Jos Building Collapse   …Promises Decisive Action Against Culprits   Following the unfortunate collapse of the Saint Academy School building in the Busa Buji area of Plateau State on Friday, 12 July 2024, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has directed the Plateau State Controller of the Ministry to embark on an immediate and comprehensive investigation to ascertain the cause of the collapse and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.   Reacting to the tragic incident, the Minister described the collapse as yet another unfortunate tragedy for the nation due to the negligence and unscrupulous behavior of certain individuals during the construction process. "Unfortunately, the issue of building collapse has once again reared its ugly head in our nation. This is unacceptable because every time something like this happens, there's a mother or father who has lost a child, a child who has lost a parent, or an individual who has lost a sibling or friend.   "The cost of building collapse cannot be quantified because lives are involved. In this case, it was a school with students whose only offense was to leave their homes in search of knowledge. This is totally unacceptable," he said.   Arc. Dangiwa stated that a directive has been issued to the appropriate officials of the Ministry to carry out a full-scale investigation into the incident.   "I have directed an investigation, and we will get to the bottom of this. I want to assure Nigerians that this investigation will not go the same way as others in the past where nobody is prosecuted for wrongdoing. We will ensure anyone found culpable faces the full weight of the law. I know that prosecution will not bring back those we have lost to this tragedy, but it will serve as a deterrent to others who may be involved in such practices," he noted.   A statement by the National Emergency Management Authority revealed that more than 40 students have been rescued from the rubble, with many of them still hospitalized in various health facilities in Jos. "We will allow rescue operations to be concluded by NEMA, and we hope that we will not record any more casualties.   "I want to express my deepest condolences to the families of those whose lives were cut short by this unfortunate and preventable tragedy. It is a national loss, and we share in their grief. For those in the hospital, our prayers and thoughts are with them, and we wish them a good recovery, while we charge the health personnel to rise to the occasion and save these precious lives," he added.   Dangiwa further noted that while it may be difficult to rewrite the wrongs of the past, the Ministry is committed to ensuring that the incidence of building collapse is prevented in the future by collaborating with relevant agencies to enforce building standards and regulations in the country. This is evident in the strong warnings issued to developers of ongoing Renewed Hope Cities and Estates projects in the country, as well as control and monitoring mechanisms set up by the Ministry.   "As a result of the complexity of the housing sector, the Ministry has to collaborate with agencies of government to promote the enforcement of building codes. We will not relent in this commitment to ensure that Nigerians can sleep in their homes, work at their various places of business, or even learn in their schools with peace of mind knowing that the building will not collapse on them," he said.   ...

Housing Ministry Completes Second Leg Groundbreaking Exercise of Renewed Hope Housing Programme     *  To construct 2000 Housing Units across eight States    The second leg groundbreaking exercise of Renewed Hope Housing Programme covering eight states across the geo -political zones has been concluded today, Tuesday,  July 9th, 2024, in Ibadan, Oyo State.   The eight states covered under the second leg were; Ebonyi and Abia (south east), Akwa Ibom and  Delta (south-south), Osun and Oyo (south-west), and Benue and Nasarawa states (north-central).    Last month, the first leg of the exercise included groundbreaking for 1,500 units in five northern states which covered Renewed Hope Estates in Katsina, Yobe, Gombe, and Sokoto, and a Renewed Hope City in Kano.   Honorable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa,  led the groundbreaking ceremony for the 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estate in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, with the assurance of completion of all the housing projects in a couple of months.    The Oyo event marks the completion of the second round Groundbreaking exercise, resulting in a total of 2,000 housing units across eight states.    The phase one of the Renewed Hope Housing Programme aims to deliver 50,000 housing units across Nigeria, including seven Renewed Hope Cities with 500-1,000 units each in the six geopolitical zones and the FCT, and 250-unit Renewed Hope Estates in the remaining thirty states.   The programme aims to create jobs, uplift lives, and boost economic development, aligning with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda to stimulate inclusive growth, lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty, and build a $1 trillion economy.   Work is ongoing at the various project sites in all the states selected under phase one, with plans for completion within a few months.    The Oyo estate will consist of 50 one-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, 150 two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, and 50 three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.    The housing units are designed for affordability and future expansion, allowing owners to expand their homes as their financial situation improves.   Dangiwa tasked the contractors in Oyo state; Skyhawk Nig. Ltd, Plusvaz Nigeria Ltd, Blue Sea Investment Ltd, and Harama Global Ltd with ensuring high-quality construction.    Hw emphasized zero tolerance for substandard work and the necessity of adhering to timelines.    Various purchasing options for the houses include; single-digit mortgage loans, rent-to-own schemes by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and outright purchase options, have been created to ensure affordability for all Nigerians.   The construction of these 250 units in every state is expected to create over 6,500 jobs across various trades, contributing to significant economic activity and impact.   The project will also generate numerous economic activities, benefiting those involved in food sales, block supply, and building material provision.   The Housing Minister emphasized the importance of land provision for these projects. States not covered under the 2023 supplementary budget will be included in the 2024 Budget, provided they offer land at no cost.    The Minister thanked Oyo State Governor, Oluwaseyi Makinde for providing land at no cost, reducing housing costs by up to 30%. He also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his vision and political will to deliver quality housing to Nigerians.   The Renewed Hope Housing Programme continues to demonstrate the federal government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises and responsibilities to the Nigerian people.   ...

Directors/ Heads of Department in Housing Ministry Signs Performance Contract with Permanent Secretary   Directors and Heads of Departments in the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development have signed a Performance Contract with the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, to institutionalize the Performance Management System in the Ministry on Thursday 4th July, 2024 at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.   In his address at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary emphasized that Performance Management System was one of the key pillars of the ongoing reforms in the Federal Civil Service, noting the signing of the performance contact was in alignment with the national priorities and presidential deliverables.   He added that it would ensure that the Ministry remained among the leading Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs), in the implementation of the ongoing reforms in the Service.   “I am happy the signing of performance contracts with our directors is happening today. It is a clear testament to our collective commitment to excellence and efficiency”, he expressed.   The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the pillar 5 of the Presidential priorities focusing on " Transportation and Infrastructure as enabler of growth" which was a  mandate given to the ministry to drive is one of the  three components  that formed the framework for the development of the Ministerial Performance Management System Plan (MPMS) through which the departmental Performance Contract were developed.    "Other components are the  Operational Priorities of the Ministry, derived from the National Development Plan; and, the Service-wide Priorities that comprised critical pillars and initiatives from the Federal Civil Service Strategies and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP25),"  he  added.   Dr. Ogunbiyi, noted that the  Performance Contract was not  for promotion purpose  but designed to ensure officers are assigned responsibilities, and will form the basis of appraisals during the process of evaluation, pointing out  that critical activities and projects of the ministries have been developed into Key Performance Indicators(KPI), Targets and Milestones.   He added that performance contract was a blueprint for action; “They outline specific objectives, timelines and measurable outcomes that will guide our efforts in coming months”.   While reminding the Directors of the significant role they play in driving forward the reform agenda of the Federal Civil Service and priorities of the government, the Permanent Secretary tasked them to be dedicated to ensure the successful implementation of the targets and milestones in their contracts, also expressing readiness to provide necessary support needed.   “I will expect you to immediately commence the process of cascading signing of performance contracts with your subordinates and ensure that it is done within the next two weeks”, he directed.   According to the Permanent Secretary, Performance Management System, (PMS), is very important in the ministry since providing affordable houses, a mandate of the ministry requires the collective responsibilities of every department in the ministry.   “We have to develop the Bill of quantities, award the contracts, supervise the contractors on the field as well as carry out evaluation, all this would be done by the staff of the Ministry, so PMS is to bring out the best of all the staff to ensure that everybody plays his role and we assist the external contributors which are the contractors to perform their work; the assignment is for everyone but the PMS will bring out the best of all the people in the house such that the Presidential deliverables are achieved”, he explained.    Dr. Ogunbiyi mentioned that innovation is one of the pillars of the reform currently going on in the service; according to him, every staff will work towards having innovative idea that would help achieve goals, revealing there would be annual reward for innovation as well as serious sanctions to officers who fail to discharge their duties effectively.     Earlier in his remarks, the Director of the department of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mohammed Bala Saulawa, said that the contract symbolized a commitment to excellence, accountability, and the shared vision held for the future of the Ministry.   He congratulated the Permanent Secretary for his leadership and foresight in fostering a results-oriented culture within the Ministry, adding that his guidance and support has been instrumental in steering the Ministry towards achieving its goals.   Saulawa further commended the Directors for their steadfastness and vision in translating policies into actions that positively impact the nation and its citizens.   “As we embark on this journey, let us remember that our responsibilities are not just to meet targets but to exceed them, to innovate, and to inspire together, we have the power to shape the future of our Ministry and to contribute meaningfully to the development of our country” he said.   ...