Housing Ministry, Lagos State Government Agree to Resolve Perennial Land Issues  *  We will give ministry necessary support to succeed - Sanwo-Olu *  Technical Committee sets up to Review, Assess and Recommend Mutually Beneficial Way Forward. Federal Ministry  of Housing and Urban Development and the Lagos State Government have agreed to work together towards an amicable resolution of all pending issues around land administration in the State.  This was a key outcome of the meeting between the Hon Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu held at the Marina, Lagos Government House, Wednesday,  December 11th, 2024. Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa was on a working visit to Lagos State where he visited the Ministry’s field offices, including the Glass House which houses over 40 federal government 's agencies, landed Federal government properties and the former Federal Secretariat in Ikoyi which is currently under dispute with the Lagos state government.   The Minister and the Governor agreed to set up a tripatite committee comprising the ministry, Lagos State Government and the Resort International Limited, who took over the complex and started work on it before the dispute, to review and assess all positions in order to solve the lingering  dispute in a mutually beneficial to all the parties involved. The minister used the opportunity of the courtesy visit to abreast the Governor of the Ministry’s efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to provide descent and affordable houses to Nigerians and ensure urban development and slums upgrade  Dangiwa commended the remarkable progress made by the state under the  administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu in delivering good governance and transforming Lagos state into a beacon of progress and innovation. He also appreciated the Governor for graciously providing land in Ibeju- Lekki area to the Ministry for the Renewed Hope City Project which construction for 2000 housing units is already ongoing, and expecting the official groundbreaking by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu early next year.  To foster an investment-friendly, smart, and sustainable environment in Lagos state, the the Minister sought the consideration of the Governor on the need for harmonization of federal and state regulatory activities, saying that building the synergy was crucial to attracting private sector investment, as well as ensuring sustainable urban development. Dangiwa appealed to the governor for common ways to resolve the lingering lands problems with the federal government in Lagos state, which he said has been a concern, emphasising the significance of coming together to consolidate on the existing relationship between the Federal Government and Lagos State being the former seat of the  Government  “Your Excellency, the Federal Government and the Lagos State are partners in development and land administration. It is important for us to work together in the spirit of cooperation and understanding” he said  He expressed confidence that addressing the problems collaboratively will further strengthen the relationship between the two tiers of government, enhance urban development, and improve the lives of Lagosians.  The Minister was further delighted to state that Lagos State is the first to domesticate the National Building Code, further looking forward to a mutually beneficial partnership between the Ministry and the state. At the glass house, the Minister used the opportunity of the visit to address the staff of the over 40 agencies occupying the facility, and assured them that,  his Ministry will carry out a major renovation of the building, restore it back to life with electricity, water supply and other necessities to make it conducive for workers  ...

We are on Track to Meeting Annual Target for Housing Delivery -  Dangiwa Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has affirmed that the progress so far recorded under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estate programme alongside the housing units delivered by the agencies of the Ministry, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and Federal Housing Authority, shows that the Ministry is clearly on course to meet close to an annual target of 20000 housing units. Dangiwa made this affirmation during the engagement with the Special Assistant to the President on Policy and Coordination and Head of Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU), Hadiza Bala Usman.  The engagement with CRDCU was on the 1st - 3rd Quarters 2024 Performance Assessment Report on Implementation of Presidential Priorities and Ministerial Deliverable of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development which was presented by Hadiza Bala Usman  Dangiwa appreciated the continuous monitoring from the CRDCU team, saying that it has kept the Ministry at an alert and ready to deal with problems. “As your team has already seen from our first, second and third quarter reports, we have been focused and working creatively hard as a Ministry to deliver results and impacts”, he noted. The Minister informed that the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates program currently has 10, 112 housing units ongoing at 14 construction sites nationwide, which includes 3000 housing units in 12 estates at 250 units per state, under the 2023 ₦50bn supplementary budget; and 3,612 units in Karsana Renewed Hope City, aside the 1,500 units in Kano and 2000 units in Lagos State. He disclosed that President Bola Ahmed  Tinubu, GCFR, would next week, December 17th and 19th respectively be officiating the groundbreaking of two additional Renewed Hope Cities in Kano and Lagos States, consisting of 2,500 units in Ibeju Lekki Lagos and 1 500 units in Kano, saying that the funding was by the FMBN and a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.  Dangiwa also explained that the Ministry has embraced the PPP arrangement to compliment the insufficiency of funding from the budgetary allocation.  Expressing concerns that the housing problems in the nation requires at least 550,000 housing units annually over the next 10 years to close the deficit, the Minister maintained optimism that the Ministry has achieved a significant progress under the Renewed Hope Agenda  “The Ministry needs a bigger budgetary allocation for housing units, we have engaged the National Assembly currently and they have expressed willingness to support ₦500bn budget for the Ministry in 2025, we would like the CRDCU to also help us support and push for this course”, he said. Accordingky, he also informed the CRDCU team that the Ministry is seeking to deepen its urban development interventions, citing the assurance of the executive director of the UN-Habitat during a recent executive board meeting in Nairobi, that every money invested in the National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade program could leverage 3 folds through their institution partners; In his words, “we need a minimum of ₦50bn annually revolving, to drive a sustainable Slum Upgrade and Urban development which is key to Nigeria meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) 2030”. Similarly. Dangiwa informed that the Ministry's intervention in slums upgrade includes providing basic services like access roads, drainages, water, among others, to make slum areas more livable; “ We currently have over 100 projects nationwide with close to 60 already completed" he said While appreciating the Ministry's significant progress since submission of the Q 3 report, he acknowledged some challenges hindering some efforts at the Ministry to include untimely release of budgetary allocation and high cost of building materials. He further solicited the support of the CRDCU in the area of assuring early release of budgetary allocations; partnerships with the state governments, National Economic Council, the National Assembly and other key stakeholders as well as the review of the Land Use Act. In her remarks and presentation of the Q1-Q3 2024 Performance Assessment Report, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination and Head of Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU), Hadiza Bala Usman, emphasized the importance of collaboration and data -driven governance, noting that effective data management is essential for validating progress and enhancing performance.  She highlighted the Ministry’s High-Impact Deliverables and Indicators, developed in partnership with the CRDCU, as part of the Performance Bond signed by Ministers in November 2023, mentioning enhancing Infrastructure and Transportation as enablers of growth.  Similarly,  the Special Adviser listed the housing ministry's deliverables which includes; reviewing the Land Use Act in conjunction with the National Assembly and State Governments, facilitation and construction of at least 20,000 affordable housing units annually, and rehabilitating  federal secretariats nationwide to improve government infrastructure. The CRDCU stressed the need for improved data management systems within the ministry, highlighting the critical role of accurate data in tracking project timelines, particularly the recommended one-year gestation period for project completion. CRDCU also recommended that the office of the Minister in conjunction with the permanent secretary take a more coordinated approach to the project management of the inter ministerial deliverables to enable rigorous approach to weekly project tracking and reporting. ...

DANGIWA SEEKS INCREASED UN-HABITAT SUPPORT FOR NIGERIA’S NATIONAL URBAN RENEWAL AND SLUM UPGRADE PROGRAMME •    Announces Plans for Nigeria’s First National Urban Forum Mid 2025 Nairobi, Kenya – December 5, 2024: In a bid to strengthen Nigeria’s efforts in addressing urban development challenges, the Hon. Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has called for increased support and collaboration from UN-Habitat. Speaking during a working lunch with the new Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Ms. Anaclaudia Rossbach, on the sidelines of the 2nd Session of the 2024 UN-Habitat Executive Board Meeting in Nairobi, the Minister emphasized the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s housing and urban challenges. Arc. Dangiwa underscored the critical state of housing in Nigeria, noting that over 75% of the country’s 42 million housing units are substandard, with nearly half of the population living in informal settlements. To address these challenges, he highlighted the Federal Government’s National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade Programme (NURSUP), which has completed projects at 54 sites nationwide, with 56 additional projects underway. These efforts aim to improve essential infrastructure such as water supply, solar-powered streetlights, access roads, drainage systems, and waste management solutions. The Minister stressed the importance of robust partnerships with international organizations like UN-Habitat to scale up these initiatives. “Our collaboration with UN-Habitat is critical. With your support, we aim to expand and enhance Nigeria’s National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade Programme to deliver transformative outcomes for our people,” he stated. As part of Nigeria’s commitment to the global urban agenda, Arc. Dangiwa announced plans to host the country’s first National Urban Forum in June or July 2025. The forum will bring together stakeholders—including government representatives, urban planners, developers, civil society organizations, and development partners—to discuss Nigeria’s urban development strategies and align them with the New Urban Agenda (NUA). The NUA, adopted at the Habitat III Conference in 2016, is a global framework guiding urbanization toward sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience. It emphasizes equitable access to housing, infrastructure, and services while advocating for compact, well-connected urban areas to reduce sprawl and enhance mobility. The NUA prioritizes climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and participatory urban governance, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 11. Its principles are central to Nigeria's efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda, driving sustainable housing and urban renewal. Arc. Dangiwa also highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in urban transformation, noting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of $500,000 to support UN-Habitat. “Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda aligns with the global urban agenda, and we are committed to driving meaningful change through partnerships with organizations like UN-Habitat,” said the Minister. He expressed optimism about finalizing a comprehensive partnership framework within six months, with plans to sign the agreement during the National Urban Forum. In her remarks, Ms. Rossbach praised Nigeria’s leadership role in urbanization and the Federal Government’s contributions to UN-Habitat initiatives, including $3 million toward the African Urban Agenda Programme (2013–2016). She affirmed that Nigeria remains a top priority for the agency and acknowledged the government’s active participation in global urbanization dialogues, such as WUF12 in Cairo and the inaugural Africa Urban Forum. Ms. Rossbach also highlighted UN-Habitat’s ongoing efforts to align its work plan with Nigeria’s strategic priorities, including a national urban renewal strategy and improved land administration systems. She assured the Minister of UN-Habitat’s commitment to strengthening its operations in Nigeria and maximizing the impact of the government’s $500,000 contribution. Additionally, she announced that UN-Habitat is negotiating a €10 million grant with the European Union for urban integration projects in Northern Nigeria, alongside other partnerships with the World Bank and Ekiti State for urban planning and investment. She proposed a high-level visit to Nigeria in 2025 to coincide with the launch of a large-scale urban intervention programme. “UN-Habitat assures the Honourable Minister that, in partnership with the UN Country Team, the agency is committed to supporting Nigeria in addressing its developmental and urbanization challenges sustainably. This aligns with the SDGs by facilitating better access to inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements,” she said. Arc. Dangiwa’s efforts reflect Nigeria’s dedication to leveraging its partnership with UN-Habitat to drive transformative outcomes. “Nigeria is committed to advancing sustainable urbanization and improving the lives of our citizens through robust initiatives and strategic collaborations,” said the Minister. ...