Housing Ministry Partners Notable UK Land Valuation Agency on Review of Compensation Rates for Public Land Acquisition London, 15th September 2024 — The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has began a landmark partnership with the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV), a renowned UK-based professional body specializing in agricultural and rural valuation. The collaboration aims to leverage the expertise, knowledge and experience of CAAV towards finalizing the long overdue review and update of methodologies for compensation rates for public land acquisition in Nigeria, with a focus on crops and economic trees. Speaking at the first day of the Knowledge Exchange Programme in London, the Honourable Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Abdullahi Tijani Gwarzo, emphasized the significance of the partnership in the context of Nigeria's ongoing land reforms. He noted that the programme marks a critical step in the country’s efforts to review, update and harmonize land compensation rates and standards in line with global best practices. “This collaboration is vital to our ongoing reforms, designed to tackle the systemic challenges in land governance and administration. By leveraging the specialist knowledge of institutions like CAAV, we are confident in developing a framework that is both effective and sustainable,” Minister Gwarzo said. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Ministry has embarked on comprehensive land reforms aimed at addressing bottlenecks and inefficiencies in the country’s land value chains. One of the core aspects of these reforms is the review of outdated compensation rates that have been in use since 2008. During his remarks, Minister Gwarzo highlighted the challenges faced in implementing the Land Use Act of 1978, which defines the process of compulsory land acquisition and compensation for affected landowners. These challenges include the outdated compensation rates and the absence of a nationwide, scientifically grounded structure for determining compensation. To address these issues, the Nigerian government, through its National Technical Development Forum (NTDF) on Land Administration, has been working on developing a revised compensation regime. The partnership with CAAV is expected to provide critical insights and methodologies for ensuring that compensation rates are updated in real time and meet international standards. “Our engagement with CAAV will enable us to apply critical professional input in the work we have already done to finalize and develop national reference rates for compensating crops and economic trees in public land acquisition. This will help us implement a dynamic, updatable, and scientifically based central repository of rates for use in various projects,” the Minister added. The meeting featured technical presentations by the Lead Consultant to the Ministry on the draft Compensation Rates Methodology, Professor Olurotimi Kemiki and Secretary and Adviser CAAV, Jeremy Moody. In his presentation, Jeremy Moody said the association is pleased to work with the Ministry towards achieving its objectives. The Knowledge Exchange Programme will continue throughout the week, with both parties expected to share valuable insights and experiences. The outcomes from this engagement will contribute to the Ministry’s final report, which is scheduled to be presented in October 2024. The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development remains committed to ensuring that land acquisition processes in Nigeria are fair, transparent, and in line with global standards.
Moulud : Minister Gwarzo Charges Muslims On Virtues Of Prophet Muhammad ( SAW) The Honourable Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo has called on Nigeria’s Muslim to reflect on the teachings of our noble Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in all our day-to-day activities. The Minister made the charge in his Maulud message marking this year's commemoration of the birthday of our exalted Prophet Peace Be Upon Him. He described Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as complete guiding principles of all Muslims in the world. Gwarzo therefore, enjoined Muslims to adhere to the teaching and practice of the Holy Prophet, saying that it's the surest way that will bring scour to our lives and unbundled our nation from the economic turbulent as a result of the current trying period. According to him "we are celebrating the birthday of our exalted Prophet Muhammad (SAW), but it's compulsory upon all Muslims to reflect on his virtues and teachings as well as follow his examples in all our daily activities". "We should also imbibe the lessons of His preaching on compassion, peace and love for one another" the Minister added. "Our progress depends on how we implement the teaching of our noble Prophet who teaches mankind how to live with one another in peace. It is a duty bound upon all Nigerian Muslims to operate according to the teaching and dictate of Islamic principles for the betterment of our country." Minister Gwarzo, therefore called on all stakeholders to recommit themselves towards President Bola Ahmad Tinubu's transformation process of the country. He added that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is determined to ensure that every Nigerian gets access to affordable, safe and dignified housing. ...
Housing Ministry Partners World Bank on Urban Resilience, Land Titling, Registration ● Natiion's vast land assets to become more economically viable, boost states' revenue - Dangiwa ● To grow rate of titled Land from 10% to 50% in 5 years The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the World Bank Group have resolved to work together towards addressing the 90% of land in Nigeria that is unregistered and untitled. The move is aimed at making the nation's vast land assets more economically viable and unlocking the over $300 billion in dead capital tied up in such undocumented land. This was the outcome of a courtesy call on the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa by a delegation of the World Bank led by its Vice President (Infrastructure), Guangzhe Chen in Abuja, Wednesday, September 11th, 2024. One of the areas of the collaboration is the National Land Registration and Titling Programme in partnership with the state governments. As the Minister said, "this is very important to our government as over 90% of land in our country is unregistered and untitled. Experts estimate a dead capital of over $300bn" "Through this initiative that we plan to implement with the World Bank, we aim to, amongst other objectives, register, document and title all land parcels within five years; develop and launch a National Digital Land Information System (NDLIS) and define a framework that makes it accessible to all stakeholders; increase the formalization of land transactions from less than 10% to over 50% in the next 10 years; and train and deploy technically competent land registration officers nationwide," he said. The Minister added that land registration and titling will open up sources of revenue for the states who can boost their income through ground rent, Certificates of Occupancy, and taxes accruing from increased investments in real estate. Accordingly, he further said that such funds can be used to provide urban services in the states which can help minimise the effect of climate change across cities in Nigeria. Arc Dangiwa also observed "We have examples from states who have implemented proper land registration systems using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Kaduna and Nasarawa are two good examples. These states have not only been able to significantly improve land registrations, but have also generated huge revenues in the process," Addressing the issue of Urban Livability, which he says is another area of common interest, Dangiwa noted, "Implementation of the approved National Urban Development Policy is a key priority of the administration of Mr. President. We have to create the necessary frameworks towards an effective, impactful and sustainable implementation towards improving the management of our urban areas and improving service delivery, saying that the World Bank’s Technical Capacity in the area will be highly needed. "The third focus area is the development of a Framework towards addressing the systemic barriers along the housing value chain. Doing this will help us to enhance private, affordable housing investments," he added. The Minister recalled the recent Livability Workshop held with Commissioners of states with the largest concentration of urban areas, noting that the recommendations from the engagement are already being developed into an Actionable Plan in collaboration with the World Bank team. Citing the recent flooding in Maiduguri which left more than 200,000 people displaced, the Minister said the need to invest in urban resilience has become more evident in recent times following rapid climate change and the susceptibility of many Nigerian urban centres to its impact. Speaking earlier, the World Bank Vice President of Infrastructure, Guangzhe Chen said the purpose of the visit was to identify areas of common interests which they can prioritise in their collaboration with the Ministry. He dusclosed that the Bank is open to supporting Nigeria on land administration, affordable housing, sustainable financing mechanisms, addressing the impact of climate change on the urban sector, and engaging in urban land management towards the attainment of livable cities, digitization, among others "We have developed some models and worked with some countries in West and Central Africa on urban Livability and resilience, and these models can be reviewed and replicated in Nigeria," he said. He added that the World Bank is open to providing financing and technical support to the Ministry to help the government achieve its housing and urban agenda. Also in the delegation was the Country Director of the World Bank, Ndiame Diop, who gave the assurance that the priorities outlined will be looked at by both teams, fine-tuned, and developed into comprehensive programmes to drive the nation's housing and urban agenda, including improving the mortgage ecosystem, implementing a structured land Titling system, and offering urban planning technical support to help vulnerable cities in Nigeria mitigate challenges of flood and rising heat levels. Diop remarked "The Minister talked about affordable housing delivery, and it's good to see that there is a functional system in the form of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, which can be supported for enhanced capacity. The issue of land registration which I find worrisome, is one area that requires urgent attention. Having 90% of land unregistered can be an obstacle for Development in the sector" The Country Director also expreseed his happiness that the Minister is already discussing with state governments on the matter which he described as a key aspect towards achieving it, saying that States have to adopt the improved systems. " We will see how we can also come in and help enrich those conversations, so that we can work together to help the country achieve increased land Titling," he assured In his closing remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, solicited for support from the World Bank in the area of capacity building in needed areas, for the incoming new staff of the Ministry, given that the experienced and old staff were retiring from the service and needed replacement with capable hands. ...
Dangiwa Advocates Adoption of Green, Sustainable, Climate Smart Housing …says collaboration with IFC EDGE will unlock green solutions, financing Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has made a case for the adoption of green, sustainable, and climate smart housing designs and technologies in the country's housing industry, charging professionals in the sector to be innovative and ingenious. Speaking at the 2024 Archibuilt Exposition organised by the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Tuesday September 10th 2024 at the Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja, the Minister urged the institute and other built professionals to find alternative and sustainable solutions to the housing needs in Nigeria. "We have seen transformative ideas presented at previous expositions, from using sustainable building materials to energy-efficient designs, water conservation techniques, and zero-emission construction technologies. The ongoing conversations will shape the future of construction in Nigeria and resonate globally. Innovation, built on technology and equitable resource utilisation models, is what we need" he said The Minister highlighted the critical role of Architects in achieving the SDG -11 which calls for sustainable cities and communities, stating that Architects hold the power to design urban spaces that are inclusive, resilient, and adaptive to the needs of the future. " We must ask ourselves: How can we ensure that the cities we build are not only environmentally sustainable but also inclusive and socially equitable? How can we foster urban ecosystems that promote healthy living, economic development, and environmental stewardship but yet groundbreaking enough?" He asked. He also urged Architects to rise to the occassion on the issues of rapid rural-urban migration and astronomic population growth which will put strain on infrastructure, stating that African States have struggled to respond to the challenges of rapid rural-urban migration and the surging population estimated to hit 2.5 billion by the year 2050, which Nigeria alone was said to account for over 400 million, ranking her the 3rd largest country globally. "As Architects, how do we respond to this scenario of an ever-increasing strain on our natural resources? ,he asked Accordingly, the Minister noted that, the answer lies in African states to deploy homegrown solutions with core innovation and begin to interrogate current and future needs. On the use of local and indigenous materials as a way of preserving cultural identity, he said " optimizing the use of local materials like bamboo, laterite and compressed earth blocks will help to reduce carbon footprints, while maintaining the structural integrity of our buildings… Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are committed to supporting initiatives that promote sustainable housing, infrastructure, and urban development," He also revealed that the 3,112 Karsana Renewed Hope City and all designs for the other six Renewed Hope Cities in each of the six geo-political zones are currently undergoing the process of EDGE Green Certification, assuring that the focus on Green practices across the Renewed Hope Estates being developed nationwide will lead to the creation of the largest green footprint in the history of housing development in the country and perhaps Africa. The Minister also reiterated efforts by the Ministry to establish six Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs, one in each of the nation's geopolitical zones, adding that the Task Team set up to draw up the modalities for their establishment have recently submitted their report which is being reviewed for implementation. Other dignitaries at the event include former Vice President and Special Guest of Honour, Arc. Namadi Sambo, who called for the need to reimagine cities not just as a static collective but as a dynamic ecosystem that should change with the times. "We must invest in cities that promote mobility, reduce congestion, and improve the quality of lives of the people. We must also focus on mixed-used neighborhoods that promote togetherness," he said. Arc Sambo urged the Architects to set up a think-tank that would periodically update the Minister of Housing on innovations for the sector that are practical and implementable for the growth of the housing sector, especially through the delivery of sustainable and affordable housing. Earlier, the President of Nigerian Instituteof Architects, Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi said that the event will showcase cutting-edge products, ideas, and technologies that will redefine the built environment, noting that the goal is to explore the intersection between architecture, technology, and innovation. ...
We are Committed to Improving Staff Welfare - Dangiwa
....Engages Tulsi Foundation Hospital to provide Free Medical Eye Test, Care for ministry's staff
As part of its commitment to improving the welfare and well being of staff, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, has engaged the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation Eye Hospital, Abuja to provide free eye medical tests and care for the staff of the ministry.
While declaring the commencement of the free eye care exercise, Minister Arc Ahmed Dangiwa, stated that, welfare of staff is paramount in order to build a healthy workforce to attain high performance. According to the minister, the eye hospital service delivery is not for profit venture rather service to humanity.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, described the free eye medical test for the stsff of the ministry as a milestone in response to staff welfare, pointing out that the issue of welfare is not only limited to money, but it covers the overall wellbeing of the staff. Dr Ogunbiyi applauded Minister, Arc Ahmed Dangiwa for bringing this free eye medical care, saying that it is the first of its kind in the ministry.
The coordinator of the Tulsi Chanrai Eye Hospital Foundation, commended the minister for the gesture, ssying that he didn't hesitate in welcoming the idea after mentioning it to him.
Housing Ministry Inaugurates Delivery Task Team on Presidential Priorities, Deliverables
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Marcus Ogunbiyi, PhD has inaugurated a delivery task team on the Presidential Priorities and Ministry's Deliverables.
The task team is a 25-man team drawn from the Ministry’s Headquarters, alongside some Agencies of the Ministry.
In his address, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi expressed optimism that the inauguration of the task teams would mark a turn around for Ministry’s activities in the sense that all departments would be responsive, having the knowledge that all activities would be monitored and reported in order to reflect the Presidential mandate of outstanding performance.
He emphasized on the importance of the task team, urging the team to know their roles and responsibilities as well as take their duties very seriously in order to execute their tasks excellently.
Dr. Ogunbiyi informed the team that there would be quarterly reporting and assessment on the Ministerial and Presidential deliverables, and as such, an awareness seminar would be organized for the task team where more details of their tasks would be unveiled.
“We must be able to monitor and guide all the activities to know where we are at a given time”, he stated.
The Permanent Secretary also stressed the importance of generating accurate data by the task team, adding that there was need for efficient and effective method of collecting and managing data such that would capture every task the team would embark on.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister on Administration, Adamu Ladan, noted that it was an honour and a milestone in the Ministry to inaugurate the task team because the present administration has taken the initiative which is a very fundamental one to the deliverable of its mandate.
He advised the task team to consider themselves very critical and key to the implementation of the Ministry’s mandate and so should take every task very importantly.
Referring to a law by the Central Coordinating Unit (CCU), Ladan advised that every data provided would be accounted for, stressing that every tiny detail in the implementation of the ministry’s deliverables must be captured so that the data being supplied will be cogent.
“We shouldn’t be found wanting in any aspect of our deliverable, so I urge us to pay attention to the tasks assigned to us and carry it out responsibly”, he stated.
Speaking on behalf of the task team, Director Planning Research and Statistics of the Ministry, Mohammed Bala Saulawa, appreciated the Permanent Secretary and the Honourable Minister for his support, encouragement as well as the responsibility given to them.
Saulawa assured the Permanent of their commitment to always come up with accurate and reliable data that would make the Ministry as a whole, proud.
He also disclosed that the department was working seriously to meet up with the timeline set by the CCU and as a result, issued a circular to all departments to submit their performance and achievements in order for a presentation to be made to the Honourable Minister and the Permanent Secretary before any action by the CCU.
He further appreciated the Permanent Secretary for approving a workshop for the task team officers and also pledged on behalf of the team to deliver their responsibilities effectively.
REMARKS BY THE HON. MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ARC. AHMED MUSA DANGIWA, AT THE ZOOM MEETING WITH HER EXCELLENCY, DR. SANIA A. ANSARI, CHAIRPERSON, ANSARI GROUP LTD, UAE, ON MONDAY JULY 22, 2024
Protocols:
- Your Excellency, Dr. Sania A. Ansari, Chairperson, Ansari Group
- Officials of the Ansari Group
- Deputy Director, Middle East and Gulf Division, Amb. Murtala Jimoh.
- The Hon. Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Alh. Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo.
- The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi
- Directors, Special Assistants, and other Ministry staff on this Zoom Meeting.
Remarks By The Hon. Minister Of Housing And Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, At The Ground-Breaking For The 250-Housing Unit Renewed Hope Estate In Oyo State On Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Protocols
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
First, I would like to thank His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde for honoring our invitation to the groundbreaking for a 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estate here in the State’s capital. This event was originally scheduled to hold last week but we had to move it forward owing to a presidential engagement. I thank His Excellency for understanding with us and regret all inconveniences that may have been caused by the change of schedule.
Today’s ceremony is a continuation of the nationwide groundbreaking exercise for housing projects under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, which His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, launched in February with the groundbreaking of a 3,112-housing unit in Karsana, Abuja.
Under Phase One of this programme, we plan to deliver a total of 50,000 housing units across Nigeria. This includes 7 Renewed Hope Cities that will have between 500 and 1,000 housing units per site in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country and the FCT, while the Renewed Hope Estates will have 250 units per site in the remaining thirty (30) states.
With this housing programme, we plan to unlock the massive potential of housing development to create jobs, uplift lives, and boost economic development. This is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President to STIMULATE INCLUSIVE GROWTH, LIFT 100 MILLION NIGERIANS OUT OF POVERTY, AND BUILD A $1 TRILLION ECONOMY.
As you may recall, last month, following the presidential launch of the programme in Abuja, we embarked on the first leg of this exercise with the groundbreaking of 1,500 housing units in the northern part of Nigeria. This includes 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estates, one each in Katsina, Yobe, Gombe, and Sokoto, and a 500-housing unit Renewed Hope City in Kano. Work is currently ongoing at each of these sites, and our plan is to have all of them completed within the next couple of months and made available to Nigerians in line with Mr. President’s desire to provide quality housing for all Nigerians. UNDER THE RENEWED HOPE AGENDA, WE ARE IMPLEMENTING A ZERO TOLERANCE FOR UNCOMPLETED PROJECTS.
Today’s event in Oyo completes the second leg of the exercise with groundbreaking for a total of 2,000 Renewed Hope Housing Units across eight (8) states in the South and North Central. We started two weeks ago on Wednesday July 26th with 250 units in Ebonyi. Same week Thursday we were in Abia for another 250 units, Friday we were in Akwa Ibom for another 250 units, and Saturday we were in Delta State for another 250 units.
Last week Monday we were in Osun State to flag off 250 units. Friday we proceeded to Benue State to break ground for 250 units and Saturday we were in Nasarawa State to flag off another 250 units. Today’s groundbreaking in Oyo, marks the 8th under the second leg and the 13th location since the Presidential flag off in February with a total of 3,500 housing units.
This estate comprises 50 units of 1-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, 150 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, and 50 units of 3-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.
We have designed these housing units in a way that makes them affordable for people to acquire by using organic designs to allow for future expansion as the income of beneficiaries increases. This means that a 1-bedroom unit can be expanded to 2 bedrooms, and a 2-bedroom unit can also be expanded to 3 bedrooms as the owner’s financial situation improves or their family grows.
As we perform this groundbreaking, I want to charge the contractors
1. Messrs Skyhawk Nig. Ltd
2. Messrs Plusvaz Nigeria Ltd
3. Messrs Blue Sea Investment Ltd
4. Messrs Harama Global Ltd
to ensure that they build according to specifications. I want to emphasize in very strong terms that we will not tolerate substandard work from any developer, and we will explore all necessary legal means, to ensure that they deliver as per the contract. IF YOU COLLECT GOVERNMENT MONEY, YOU MUST DO THE WORK.
We also want the developers to adhere to the timeline and finish within three months so that we can begin the process of getting Oyo indigenes to purchase and move in.
To ensure affordability, we have created different options to enable everyone who has a source of income and livelihood to own these homes when they are completed. These include single-digit mortgage loans that beneficiaries can repay over 30 years, rent-to-own schemes provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and outright purchase options for those who can afford to pay upfront.
Statistics show that the construction of one housing unit creates an average of 25 direct and indirect jobs. So, for these 250 housing units in Oyo State, we hope to create jobs for over 6,500 people in various trades, from professionals like architects, civil engineers, and mechanical engineers to masons, plumbers, tilers, electricians, and laborers. We have seen unskilled workers at other project sites earning as much as N35,000 per week, at an average of N5,000 per day. This amounts to about N140,000 per month.
This is in addition to the economic activities, including those selling food, supplying blocks, and providing building materials. The value chain effect of construction work on this site is significant and creates a positive economic impact.
I want to state that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development are very particular about giving Nigerians value for money. We are diligently funding these projects from the N50 billion 2023 Supplementary Budget that Mr. President approved for the Ministry to ensure sustainability, quality, and geographic spread.
It is important to say that the provision of land in a good location and at no cost is a key condition for siting Renewed Hope Housing Projects. The twelve states covered under this 2023 supplementary budget are those that first provided land. I want to assure that states that have not been covered will be included in the Ministry’s 2024 Budget on a first-come, first-served basis, on the condition that they provide land at no cost to enhance affordability.
At this juncture, I want to appreciate and thank His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde for promptly granting our request for the provision of land at no cost. This singular action has helped us to reduce as much as 30% of the cost of the units in this Estate for the benefit of potential homeowners. This is a dividend of responsible governance and I applaud Your Excellency for this.
Before I close my remarks, I want to thank and appreciate our President for providing the vision and the political will necessary for us to make a difference in terms of delivering decent and quality housing to Nigerians. The Groundbreaking ceremonies for these projects demonstrate that Mr. President and indeed the federal government of Nigeria is committed to fulfilling promises and responsibilities to all Nigerians.
Long live Oyo State and His Excellency, the Executive Governor.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Long live Mr. President.
THE VISIT OF CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS TO THE FMHUD
the visit of Chartered Institute of Directors to the FMHUD
PICTURE MOMENT FROM THE VISIT OF THE CHIEF OF AIR STAFF, NIGERIAN AIRFORCE AIR MARSHAL HASSAN BALA ABUBAKAR TO THE FMHUD
Picture moment from the visit of the Chief of Air Staff, Nigerian Airforce Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar to the FMHUD