Our Urban Renewal, Slum Ugrade Interventions Impacted over 150 Communities  - Dangiwa 

* says ministry aims to achieve SDG 11 by addressing SDG 6

Housing Minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has stated that the Ministry has reached more than 150 communities with basic amenities under its urban renewal and slum upgrading initiatives, over the past two years. 

Dangiwa disclosed this during his meeting with the Society for Water and Sanitation, (NEWSAN) who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.

Society for Water & Sanitation - NEWSAN is a coordinating network of over 300 Civil Society Organisations. A Non-Governmental Organisation and Community Based Organisations in water, sanitation, and hygiene spread over six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

The Minister said housing ministry is set to explore partnership with NEWSAN to strengthen advocacy for water, sanitation and hygiene across the country, noting that NEWSAN's activities align with the ministry's goals, particularly in urban development and slum upgrading.

He explained that the ministry provides security, electricity, solar street lighting, drainages, roads, water, and sanitation in urban areas, in addition to provision of micro-stores and other basic amenities, where needed.

Dangiwa assured the delegation of the Ministry’s willingness to collaborate, emphasizing its importance in enhancing data-driven planning and interventions, and noting that the Ministry aims to achieve SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by addressing SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Arc. Dangiwa however acknowledged that due to budgetary constraints, the Ministry’s interventions do not currently cover the entire country.

He explained that many legislators often channel their constituency projects to the Ministry for execution, particularly in the area of water and sanitation. According to him, out of every ten interventions received, more than 60 percent are usually directed toward water and sanitation, as legislators consider it a more impactful intervention compared to other projects such as motorcycles and similar items sometimes provided for constituents.

Accordingly, he added that the Ministry’s Special Projects Unit (SPU) has been actively involved in delivering interventions, saying that over the past two years, the Ministry has reached more than 150 communities with basic amenities under urban renewal and slum upgrading initiatives.

He also highlighted the roles of other departments, including the Urban and Regional Development Department and the Engineering Services Department, which contribute to similar intervention projects through budgetary provisions and technical implementation.

“On a general note, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has been actively engaged in these interventions over the years, and we will do more once we get our budgetary allocations increased or when we get any interventions from some of our partners”, he added.

Minister Dangiwa assured that the Ministry will continue to collaborate, exchange ideas, and share relevant data with them, further stating that the Ministry will document projects before and after interventions in order to show the impact of its work.

In addition, He confirmed the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the Society for Water and Sanitation moving forward.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, informed the team that the Ministry is already addressing issues related to water and sanitation, despite challenges of inadequate funding. 

He welcomed the timeliness of the visit, noting that it presents an opportunity to incorporate the construction of safe toilets in markets and other public places into the Ministry’s sanitation interventions.

Earlier in his remarks, the National Coordinator NEWSAN, Mr. Benson Attah, noted that they work with community based organizations and NGOs to ensure every citizen has access to safe water and sanitation.

While acknowledging the Ministry’s efforts in providing shelter, he encouraged further action in the areas of water, sanitation, and hygiene, and informed the Minister that the delegation came to solicit support and partnership to achieve the goals of safe water and improved sanitation.

Mr. Attah recalled the 2018 national state of emergency on water, sanitation, and hygiene declared by former President Muhammadu Buhari, alongside Public Order 009 which prohibits open defecation under the Clean Nigeria campaign. 

He noted that states were assigned to implement open defecation-free zones, in line with Nigeria’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 6 (safe sanitation and hygiene), as well as its regional obligations under the Africa Union’s water and sanitation framework.

He further explained that despite these efforts, only Jigawa and Katsina States have so far achieved the Open Defection Free status nationwide.

Mr. Attah encouraged the ministry to use its influence with state governments to promote open defecation-free zones.

He also proposed for the ministry to include provisions for water, sanitation, and hygiene in contracts with contractors.