Housing Ministry Holds 2025 Sector Retreat to Ensure Proper Planning, Delivery of Ministerial Mandates    * Framework for Real Estate Regulatory Authority  Underway  - Dangiwa    A Retreat for the stakeholders in the Housing Sector organised by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has been held in Lagos, Wednesday, 19th February, 2025.   Themed "Actualizing the Renewed Hope Agenda for Housing and Urban Development: Examining Strategies, Identifying Opportunities to Boost Scale and Impact”, the retreat brought together key stakeholders, including heads of departments, and agencies, to review progress and forge strategic collaborations.   In his keynote address, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, announced the Ministry's  commitment to establishing a framework for a Real Estate Regulatory Authority, acknowledging the crucial need for improved regulation within the sector.    He said "The creation of a Real Estate Regulatory Authority is expected to bring greater transparency, accountability, and professionalism to the sector, fostering greater investor confidence and ultimately contributing to the overall growth of the Nigerian economy".   The Minister explained that the ministry is working to create a framework for the establishment of a Real Estate Regulatory Authority, emphasizing that the Ministry will work closely with the National Assembly and stakeholders to ensure the successful establishment of the Authority.    He also commended Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Housing and Habitat, Hon Abdulmumini Jibrin for his continued advocacy in support of real estate regulation.   In a significant boost to the housing sector, Arc. Dangiwa announced that the National Assembly has secured an additional N50 billion for the Ministry’s 2025 budget. This increase follows an initial budget reduction proposed by the Budget Office.    He noted that the additional funding will lead to creation of more jobs while the ministry is able to clear inherited liabilities and impact positively on the economy.   Arc Dangiwa noted that though the housing sector has suffered neglect in the past, the  ministry is determined to make a difference under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reiterating his commitment to work closely with the National Assembly and stakeholders.    "We are determined to make a difference. We are optimistic and encouraged by the possibilities that the future holds, rather than the failures of the past. Just because programs failed in the past does not mean they will fail today," he affirmed.   The Minister added, "We aim to review what we have done so far towards actualizing Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Housing and Urban Development, interrogate our challenges and successes, explore opportunities, and set out a clear pathway to ramp up the tempo of our activities."   On the milestone recorded by the Ministry, the Minister noted that within 19 months the Ministry has established  14 active construction sites for 10,112 housing units, with many nearing completion.    Other achievements according to the Minister includes the National Land Registration and Titling Programme in collaboration with the World Bank, informing that the Bank is coming for the second technical session in March, 2025.   Reforms in land administration to simplify property ownership; Strengthening Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and Federal Housing Authority ( FHA), were  among other achievements listed by the Minister.   Earlier in his goodwill message, Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, His Excellency,  Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, called for increased funding for housing projects, assuring continued legislative support.   He also highlighted efforts to ensure the recapitalization of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and repositioning of Federal Housing Authority through adequate budgetary allocation.    "The committee is also making efforts to reinstate the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) in the Federal Budget, allowing it to replicate past successes such as FESTAC Town and Gwarimpa Estate," he disclosed.   Similarly, Chairman, House Committee on Regional Planning and Urban Development, Hon Abiante Awaji, advocated for a multi- sectoral approach to solving challenges in the built environment, including the reintroduction of technical education for skill development in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.   He gave assurance that the National Assembly will continue to partner with the Ministry, its Agencies and stakeholders in the housing sector to ensure housing initiatives aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.   In his welcome address, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, announced that Performance Contracts between the Minister and Chief Executives of the Ministry's agencies will be signed during the retreat to promote accountability, efficiency, result- driven governance.    "This signifies a strong commitment to accountability, efficiency and results-driven governance in line with the Performance Management System (PMS) policy and guidelines of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF)," the Permanent Secretary said.   ...

FG Advises Waterfront Property Owners to Abide by the Law, Normalise Ownership   *  Powers to own, control lands on and along shorelines vested with FG - Belgore    The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has taken steps to normalise ownership of all its landed properties nation wide, and specifically called on all waterfront property owners to abide by the law and normalise their documentation    Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr Shuaib Belgore stated that the steps are being taken in validation of the Supreme Court Judgment delivered in January 2024, namely waterfront, shoreline areas and waterways set backs.   Belgore explained that, it was in this regard that the Honourable Minister, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa engaged all the relevant stakeholders especially waterfront property owners in Lagos State with a view of getting proper documentation and titling of properties, licenses, permits and statutory charges as expressly stated undrer the exclusive legislative list of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).   He said " The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Lagos State Government clearly have defined areas of responsibilities and collaborations with regards to administration of landed properties as provided by the law"    Accordingly, the Permanent Secretary advised all waterfront property owners, dredgers, boat operators to properly process all documents that will enable them to conduct their businesses unhindered with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) where applicable.   Reacting to the publication by the Lagos State Building Control Agency’s (LASBCA), to the Residents of Banana Island, Belgore advised all Waterfront properties owners to strictly abide by the law as  expounded by the Supreme Court Judgment of January 2024.    " The general public and LASBCA should note that the Land Use Act, CAP L.5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and the 2nd schedule to the 1999 Constitution (exclusive legislative list) has vested the Federal Government with the powers to own and control all lands on and along the shorelines (Banana Island, Osborne Phase I and II, Lekki Waterfront e.t.c)" he remarked  ...

Housing Ministry, Climate Change Council Collaborate to Enhance Climate Resilience in Housing    * Agencies committed to UN SDGs 7, 11, 13.   Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) have unveiled a working collaboration in order to enhance the achievement of climate resilience in housing and urban development.   This was the outcome of the meeting held  between the Housing Minister Arc Ahmed Dangiwa and the Director General and Chief Executuve officer of NCCC, Dr Nkiruka Maduwkwe.    Dr. Maduekwe led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the office of the Minister of Housing and Urban Development to discuss areas of common interest and collaboration between the two agencies.   The Minister emphasized on the importance of the intersection between climate change and the housing and urban development sector, highlighting that urban areas contribute over 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with Nigeria facing urbanization rate exceeding 4% annually.   While speaking of his commitment to sustainable housing initiatives, the Minister noted that it aligned with the United Nations (UN) development goals 7, 11 and 13, which are Sustainable Cities and Communities; Affordable and Clean Energy, as well as Climate Action.    To achieve the SDG goals, Dangiwa showcased the Renewed Hope Cities and Estate program which includes 10,112 energy efficient and climate resilient housing units in 14 locations nationwide, as well as the National Urban Renewal and Slum upgrade project which has successfully completed interventions across 86 out of 106 sites.   “The intervention under our slum upgrade is that of sanitation, roads, drainages, refuse disposal, solar street lighting…”, he explained.   The Minister expressed his dedication to ensuring that sustainability remains a priority in all the policies, programs, and projects of the Ministry, emphasizing the partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC -EDGE) Green Buildings Programme which began last year.   He disclosed that through the collaboration, with IFC-EDGE, a Workshop was conducted for all the Ministry’s Technical staff, on Green Building and Construction Methods.     Accordingly, Arc. Dangiwa informed that the Ministry also adopted IFC-EDGE’s innovative IT solution to design energy-efficient buildings, optimize water usage, and reduce embedded energy consumption in housing projects.     “I also gave a Ministerial directive that all Ministry projects should be designed with efficiency in mind. These initiatives underscore our determination to align Nigeria’s housing sector with global climate adaptation and mitigation strategies,” he said.   Speaking earlier, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe, emphasized the crucial link between climate resilience and urban development.   She said the council seeks stronger partnership with the ministry inorder to achieve its goal, stressing on the need for stronger collaboration between the National Climate Secretariat and the Ministry.   Dr. Maduekwe informed the Honourable Minister that Nigeria was currently reviewing its Nationally Determined Commission (NDC), following approval by the United Nations to submit an updated version;   She requested the Ministry to establish a climate change desk and nominate someone from the Ministry to be part of the National Steering Committee to aid in the review of Nigeria’s NDC.   The meeting also featured the presentation of a copy of the Climate Change Act, officially published in the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s gazette, to the Honourable Minister. ...