Ministry of Housing to Assist Nigerian Airforce Acquire Affordable Houses for Officers    Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has assured the Nigerian AirForce of the readiness of the  Ministry to provide  housing units to its personnel under the National Housing Program (NHP) at subsidized rates.   The Minister disclosed this when the Chief of Air staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, led a delegation of key officers from NAF on a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja.   While appreciating the dedication of the Nigerian Airforce to providing security and protection of sovereignty of the nation, the Minister reiterated the obligation of the ministry to provide affordable housing for all class of Nigerians, covering low, middle and high level income earners.    He stated "As the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, we recognize the importance of providing suitable housing for members of the Nigerian Airforce. We assure our commitment to working with you towards meeting the needs of our Airforce."    Dangiwa noted that the leadership of the Ministry under the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu provided various options to enable Nigerians become home owners, saying that the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programme launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Karsana, Abuja  is one opportunity available to Nigerians for home ownership    According to him, the program which aims at providing 50,000 affordable housing to Nigerians nationwide under phase 1,  has started in 13 locations of the country with the Cities in Abuja to contain 3112 Units, 500 units in Kano state under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, and 1,500 units ongoing in Lagos, in partnership with Federal Mortgage Bank Nigeria (FMBN).   Dangiwa also explained that construction of houses was currently ongoing in 12 locations across the nation, two states in each geopolitical zones of the country where lands were provided and currently at various level of completion     Similarly the Minister highlighted the various purchasing options available to potential buyers to include; Outright, Rent -to - own, instalmental and mortgage loan with a single digit interest payable under 30 years period.   To ensure seamless accessibility in acquiring the houses Dangiwa added that the ministry has launched Renewed Hope Housing  Portal   Speaking on the  National Housing Program (NHP) constructed by the previous administration in the 30 states of the federation,  Dangiwa explained, the houses have been advertised and have been over subscribed, saying also that the ownership option plans made available to prospectus buyers also include; outright purchase  installmental payment, mortgage loan as well as rent-to-own.   Responding to the request for the National Housing in Bauchi, the Minister said, “We are ready to offer the whole estate in Bauchi to the Nigerian Air Force at a discounted rate to offer installmental payments as the chief of Air staff deems fit to pay"   The minister directed the Permanent Secretary to coordinate the teams from both the Ministry and the Airforce to undertake  an  assessment tour of the NHP site in Bauchi state in order to facilitate a speedy process of acquisition, giving assurance,  the discounts will cover the cost of repairs for some of the houses that have become dilapidated.   On appeal to engage the Nigerian Airforce Investment Limited Housing and Construction Company,  the Minister gave assurance that the company would be considered for the next procurement bid since the Ministry has just concluded its procurement process.   While expressing his elation on the Post- Service Housing pursuit of the Nigeria Airforce for its personnel, Dangiwa acknowledged the gesture as a welfare that could  boost the morale for both serving and soon to retire officers.   He said, "we want to offer you the National House Programme across  the country and the Renewed Hope Estates and Cities across the country," suggesting Nigeria Airforce could purchase their preferences either by outright purchase or instalmental thereafter make deductions from the pensions of beneficiary to recoup the money.   Speaking earlier, the Chief of Air Staff,  Air Marshal Bala Abubarkar, while commending the Minister for the achievement recorded so far under his leadership,  said they were in the ministry to seek collaboration on providing affordable houses for Airforce personnel covering both the officers in service and post -service.   Air Marshall Abubakar told the Minister that they also came to appeal for the NHP Bauchi housing units to either be given to Nigeria Airforce free or sold to them at a discounted rate with friendly payment terms, as acquiring it will go a long way to enhance the "operational readiness of the force.   Tge Chief of Air Staff also requested collaboration with the Ministry on engaging the Nigeria  Airforce Investment Limited Housing and Construction Company in the ongoing construction of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estate projects across the country, affirming the company  has handled several civil works and construction of houses such as the one the force has in Asokoro.   ...

FG  Plans Building Material Manufacturing Hubs In Six Geo- Political Zones In Nigeria *  Seeks Collaboration with Investors   Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has disclosed plan of the ministry to construct building materials manufacturing hubs in six geo- political zones of the country.   Dangiwa made the disclosure when he received the Executive Chairman, Zheng Xiaopeng and Vice Chairman, Yiwu China- Africa Business Council, High Chief Mike Yousuf Ugwu, on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.   The Minister said, " We want to tell that we have one project that we are designing to build; Building Materials Manufacturing Hub. We want to build a hub whereby we have industries or factories that are producing building materials."   He explained that the building materials manufacturing hubs would be situated in six geo-political locations of the country ; Sagamu in South West, Aba in South East, Warri or Asaba in South South, Ajaokuta in North Central, Kano in North West and Gombe in North East.   " So, that is our invitation. We want to collaborate with any investor willing to bring funding to build the hub, even if it is two or three hubs, manage it, recoup the investment then give us after recouping the investment," he said.   On the security of the locations, the Minister assured that the locations are secured, adding that the intention of the ministry is to have them built in locations where building materials markets already existed.   Explaining the concept of a building material manufacturing hub, the Minister said that the manufacturing hubs will be where building materials are manufactured and they will have facilities like power, water and even housing for workers where they would be comfortable and not go out till work is completed.   Accordingly, building materials like roofing sheets, ceilings, tiles, doors amongst others are the items these hubs will be manufacturing in their respective locations across the country.   In addition, the Minister informed that the ministry was not going to present any form of design to any investor, urging them to bring up their own designs to suit the ministry's concept.   "We cannot give you design since you have taken our concept, " he noted.    He also revealed that a minimum of a  hundred hecters of land will be provided for the interested investors, saying that the manufacturing hubs could come in small, medium or large hubs and that they will be  bringing in their manufacturing  machines and equipment.    Arc Dangiwa further encouraged interested investors to present the proposed design of any size of the building materials manufacturing hub of interest, be it small, medium or large to the ministry.   Similay, he also explained the Chinese concept of the building material manufacturing hubs where the items were produced and thereafter purchased and imported to Nigeria, saying that the federal government wants same replicated in Nigeria in order to reduce cost of importation, create jobs for the teeming Nigerians as well as enhance economic growth and development of the country.   The minister also informed of the intention of the government to make all the building materials manufacturing hubs designated free zones areas.   Earlier in his remarks, the High Chief Mike Yousouf Ugwu, told the Minister that he was in the ministry on behalf of Yiwu China - African Business Council, to seek  collaboration in the area of housing construction.    He mentioned that the Commission had constructed housing for permanent staff for the government of Kenya, saying that funding would not be an impediment to handling any construction job awarded to it.   The High Chief applauded the Minister for the idea of having building materials manufacturing hubs in Nigeria, which he described as a good vision to move the housing sector forward   He requested for clarification if the building materials manufacturing hubs will be a free zone areas where machines and equipment to be shipped in for use would enjoy free imprt duties, aside the the items manufactured in the factories, saying that the gesture would make it attractive for his commission and partners to invest in the building material manufacturing hubs being proposed by the ministry.  ...

Dangiwa Charges Housing Agencies on Performance towards Achieving Ministerial Mandate    ... We would deliver our ministerial deliverables to make housing ministry proud - MDs FHA, FMBN   Minister of Housing and Urban Development  Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has charged the leadership of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to be more creative and innovative in order to achieve their ministerial mandate    Dangiwa gave the charge during the formal performance review meeting with the Management Teams of the agencies; the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA)   The performance review meeting was aimed at enhancing performance in achieving the mandate of the ministry as it relates its ministerial deliveries inline with the performance contract agreement.     At the review meeting, the leadership of the FMBN and FHA presented their ministerial deliverables in line with the Performance Management System reform of the Office of the Head of the Service of the Federation and will be signing the Performance Contract with the Minister.   Minister Dangiwa recalled the charge he gave the two agencies upon their appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier this year to be creative,  innovative as well as transformative in order to enhance their performances.   The FHA was charged to come up with innovative ideas, explore avenues to source funds that could help them deliver millions of housing units in the next 50 years as against the 50,000 it has provided over the past 50 years.   Similarly, the FHA was charged to go to the capital market, issue bonds and raise funds to deliver mass housing project nationwide, as well as market the houses, thereafter repay the loans and also declare profit.   He warned that lack of funds would not be an excuse fior FHA not to meet up on its ministerial deliverables, advising that they visit the FMBN and leverage on inter-agency collaboration for construction loan.   To the FMBN, the Minister reminded the team of his emphasis on innovation and transformation, saying that the bank must lead a new era of massive housing development and delivery, notwithstanding the challenging times of high construction costs and lower incomes; “This requires a radically new mindset, thinking outside the box, and identifying the opportunities these challenges present”, he stated    On ongoing projects handled by the FMBN, Dangiwa gave a warning that the ministry will not tolerate abandoned and uncompleted projects, while seeking for approval for the new ones.   "Better know that we will not allow you to create more projects without completing the existing ones," he said    Dangiwa emphasised that the completion of abandoned project is key to the bank's accomplishment, noting " when you complete them, invite us to commission them they will add to your deliverables."   The Minister stated his expectation for FMBN to push strongly for legislative amendments to relevant housing industry laws, including the National Housing Fund (NHF) Act, 1992, and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Establishment Act, 1993.   He also urged the team to work on the long overdue digitalization of its entire product and service portfolio, pointing out that the world is in an era where Nigerians should be able to register and subscribe to the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme, and apply for FMBN products such as home renovation loans and individual construction loans.   While acknowledging the current inflation in the country, the minister advised the housing agencies  to rescope their buildings by leaving out the non essentials fittings like tilling and PoP as it will not only save cost but make them affordable for Nigerians to buy. Accordingly,  the Minister expressed readiness in providing the necessary leadership to help the agencies achieve their mandates, this according to him was demonstrated when he spoke to the leadership of Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) to meet the agencies in order to explore partnership opportunities and funding sources.   Dangiwa further itemized the targets set for the both agencies, for the FMBN: the delivery at least 5,000 new homes annually, with a significant portion through the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme, disbursement of mortgage loans to at least 20,000 Nigerians annually, requiring quicker turnaround times and more efficient customer service, increase in National Housing Fund (NHF) collection by expanding the subscription net to include more Nigerians.   Others are speedy roll out of the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme to facilitate an increase in NHF collection and provide more houses to Nigerians and Maintenance of an up-to-date audited accounts and corporate stability to facilitate fruitful cooperation with financing institutions like Shelter Afrique Development Bank   And for the FHA, demonstration of more flexibility and innovation in operations, obtaining more funding from the capital market by issuing bonds to deliver mass housing projects across the country, market them, repay the loans, and declare profit, delivery of a minimum of 5,000 houses annually to Nigerians.   Other targets for the FHA are to make judicious use of its license to operate across all income segments in the government's broad strategy to deliver housing to Nigerians, as well as taking advantage of its status as an agency without budgetary allocations to be inventive, partnering with credible investors and local and international financing partners to deliver more houses to Nigerians.   Knowing the importance of ministerial deliverables in relation to the performance contract, the Mnister later directed the Planning, Research and Statistics department, PRS, of the ministry to engage the agencies on a quarterly basis so as to ensure they are not deviating from their ministerial deliverables.   He also mandated the Central Delivery Coordinating Unit (CDCU) of the ministry to meet with FHA team in order to guide them so that they will know what is expected of them before the signing of the Performance Contract.     “The Ministry will keep track and monitor your progress on a year-to-year basis; your KPIs are the only things that matter because we have a responsibility to Nigerians, and we cannot afford to fail”, he stated   Presentating his agency's deliverables, the MD, Federal Housing Authority, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, noted that FHA has an ongoing direct construction of 336 housing units and one office at the Bwari Area Council of the FCT, as well as 820 housing projects under a private public partnership (PPP) and direct construction, at the Apo/Guzape area of the FCT, informing that the agency would be ready to commission about 1000 houses by December, 2024.   He also spoke about the deployment and operationalization of Enterprise Content Management System (ECM), informing that there are 350 staff with licensed access to ECM, and 50 staff being provided with official laptops.   On his part, the MD FMBN, Alh Shehu Usma Osidi, enumerated some of the targets and deliverables of the bank, saying that the bank has delivered 810 and 741 housing units respectively, for the first and second quarters of year 2024 out of the quarterly target of 1,800 units. He also stated that the Bank intends to complete ongoing projects simultaneously with new ones in the third quarter.   Alhaji Osidi further mentioned other deliverables to include; 3,674 persons benefitting from the mortgage loans, establishment a National  Mortgage Registry and the commencement of the digitalization of the bank's products.   The Managing Directors FMBN and FHA,  Dr.Usman Shehu Osidi and Hon Oyetunji Ojo, respectively, assured  the Minister of doing their utmost best to deliver on their mandates and ministerial deliverables, saying they will make him proud. ...