Minister of Housing to Encourage Increased Private Sector Investment in Housing, Breaks Ground for 480-Unit CityGate Homes Project in Abuja   …Urges private developers to build integrated, inclusive communities that are inclusive.   As part of efforts to encourage increased private sector participation towards solving Nigeria’s housing deficit, the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, on Thursday, 30 November 2023 performed the ground-breaking for a 480-housing unit project at the Kukwaba area of Abuja.   Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister said the Renewed Hope Agenda for Housing and Urban Development requires the participation of the private sector to bridge the housing deficit in the country, as the quantum of funding required to fix the housing shortage is beyond what government can provide.   The project by CityGate Homes covers phases II and III of the company’s Kukwaba housing project. It comprises 480 housing units of 6-bedroom semi-detached duplexes and 4-bedroom blocks of flats. Arc. Dangiwa described the ground-breaking event as a significant contribution to the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to address the housing crisis in the country.   “The initiative taken by Citygate Homes aligns perfectly with the government's vision for sustainable urban development. This project embodies the collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors, showcasing how partnerships can drive impactful change and contribute to the growth and development of our nation.   “In a rapidly growing city like Abuja, the demand for housing has surged, and it is our collective responsibility to respond to this need. I commend Citygate Homes for their dedication and investment in this endeavor. This housing project will not only provide shelter but will also create job opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and contribute significantly to the enhancement of the local community,” he said.   While the Minister assured that government will continue to provide the enabling environment for private-sector investment to thrive, especially with the uncommon determination displayed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cater for the welfare of Nigerians, he urged them to embrace sustainability, inclusivity, and affordability in their housing and urban development drive.   “I commend Citygate Homes for their dedication and investment in this endeavor. This housing project will not only provide shelter but will also create job opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and contribute significantly to the enhancement of the local community. Furthermore, I want to emphasize the importance of sustainability and inclusivity in urban development. As we move forward, it is imperative that our housing projects incorporate eco-friendly designs, embrace technological advancements, and cater to the diverse needs of our society, including the low- and medium-income earners.   “In this regard, I will request that the Management of City Gate Homes earmark a certain percentage of the 480-homes as affordable housing with price tags that average Nigerians can afford to buy. As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I am an advocate of affordable housing with the focus on the average Nigerian worker, who are indeed, the majority,” he added.   He added that developers should borrow a leaf from the Ministry which has recently designed a housing plan to create integrated communities with housing types that reflect the diverse income segments of the country, using cross subsidies. “This way we aim to sell high-end homes at market rates and deploy the profits towards subsidizing the units for low-and-medium-income households. This enhances inclusivity,” he added.   He further urged the management of CityGate Homes to ensure timely execution of the 480 units, while upholding the highest building codes and standards, as well as operating transparently.   Speaking earlier, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CityGate Homes, Michael Ejiogu noted that the company has nine projects in Abuja, and is committed to partnering the government in its quest to bridge the housing gap in Nigeria, assuring that the company will work to ensure affordability for medium-income earners in the country. ...

Ministry to Partner IOD Centre for Corporate Governance on Staff Training and Capacity Building   The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is set to enter into collaboration with the Institute of Directors’ Centre for Corporate Governance to provide training and capacity building for its staff. The move is intended to optimise the processes of both the Ministry and its agencies and bolster their outlook by entrenching professionalism and enhancing their corporate governance.   This was revealed by the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa during a courtesy visit by the institute to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa at his office in the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. The Minister underscored the important role the institute plays in enhancing professionalism in the workplace, promoting good governance practices, and boosting performance across sectors.   “We would leverage your capacities and resources to boost professionalism and effective leadership at all levels within the Ministry and Agencies towards powering our Action Plan for Housing and Urban Development. We hope that we can do this through periodic retreats, seminars, brainstorming sessions to empower our professionals with the right leadership techniques.   “In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we intend to build a Ministry of Housing and Urban Development that embraces the performance-driven culture of the private sector so that we can more effectively deliver homes and livable communities for Nigerians,” he said.   Dangiwa noted that the most important resource in any establishment is the human resource, and all personnel must be empowered with the requisite skillsets, mentality, and attitude to bring about positive change and transformation. He added that the IoD is a trusted resource that has been instrumental in boosting efficiency for optimal performance across organisations in Nigeria.   “The ideals that the Center promotes align seamlessly with the fundamental principles that underpin effective and responsible leadership. This includes Integrity, Meritocracy, Professionalism, Accountability and Probity, Customer Centricity and Teamwork. I recall that as the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) IoD was a strong partner and insightful resource during the series of Board/Management Retreats and Capacity Building/Training programs that we carried out.   “During these sessions we sought to build a new culture of high performance that delivers results even while confronting systemic and institutional bottlenecks. I believe that the robust contributions and input from IoD helped to bring clarity to our initiatives and increase staff capacity. All these resulted in the historic performance that I was able to lead the Management to record within our five years at the Bank. I am proud to say that what we achieved in five years at FMBN was far more than what previous managements had achieved in 25 years before we came on board,” he said.   On his part, leader of the delegation and Chairman, Board of Governors of the Institute, Urum Eke noted that the purpose of the visit was to offer useful tools to the Ministry and seek the Minister’s intervention in ensuring that agencies such as the FMBN and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) take advantage of their expertise to position themselves for growth.   “It is clear to us that, with respect to housing and urban development, government does not have the wherewithal to do the massive work that is needed. What that means is that you’ll certainly be doing more of Public-Private Partnerships. However, no private sector partner will put his money in a parastatal, agency or company where there is no strong corporate governance; that is clear. Corporate governance is at the root of corporate performance, so we want to urge you to prevail on the agencies under the Ministry to take advantage of what we offer” he said. ...

Dangiwa Reiterates Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility, Judicious Use of Resources in Housing Delivery   Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has reiterated his commitment to ensuring strict adherence to fiscal responsibility in the operations of the ministry and its agencies, noting that development in the housing and urban sector is largely dependent on judicious use of resources in the conceptualisation, development, and implementation of affordable housing and urban development plans.   Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) at the Ministry's headquarters in Abuja, Tuesday 28th November 2023, Arc. Dangiwa said the Ministry has a fundamental obligation to manage public funds responsibly and ensure that Nigerians get value for money expended by the Ministry and its agencies.   "As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I clearly understand the important role that fiscal responsibility should play in guiding the management of the Ministry’s affairs. For me, fiscal responsibility is not just merely a concept; it is a cornerstone that should shape our decisions, policies, and strategies, ensuring the judicious management of the Ministry’s resources so that we can give Nigerians value for money as we conceive, develop, and implement our affordable housing and urban development plans," he said.   The Minister further noted that he understands the weight of public trust and will do all in his power to ensure the activities of the ministry are carried out in a transparent and accountable manner. "Every decision that we make, every resource that we allocate, carries the weight of public trust and expectation. Therefore, instilling fiscal responsibility is indeed an ethical imperative and a commitment to transparent and accountable governance," he added.   He thanked the FRC for its efforts over the years and assured them of the support of the ministry to engender fiscal responsibility and reporting within its agencies, while pledging to help the commission make a case for the review of its establishment law to ensure proper compliance by public offices.   Earlier in his remarks, the commission's Chairman, Barr. Victor Muruako noted that the Minister has always been an advocate of fiscal responsibility right from his days as Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). He sought the Minister's intervention in ensuring agencies under the Ministry adhere to annual financial reporting to the commission.   He further expressed confidence in the Minister's ability to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda for Housing and Urban Development. "As MD of the FMBN, he achieved about N270 billion in additional NHF contributions. We are also aware of the N40 billion FMBN Cities' Project which he started in his time. As Minister, I have no doubt in his experience, abilities, and commitment to developing the sector. The Renewed Hope Agenda is real, and very soon Nigerians will begin to see the results," he said. ...