Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Engages Un-Habitat on Funding, Technical Support for Nationwide Urban Renewal and Slum Grading Projects   The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has expressed commitment to deepening partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) towards mobilizing multi-lateral funding and technical support for planned Nationwide Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrading Program under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the government. The program aims to improve living conditions in Nigeria’s urban areas and transform informal settlements into vibrant, integrated neighborhoods with access to essential services, while preventing the proliferation of slums.   Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa stated this during a meeting with a delegation of UN-Habitat, led by the Director, Regional Office for Africa, Oumar Sylla, at the Ministry’s headquarters on Thursday October 19, 2023 at the nation’s capital, Abuja.   The Minister observed that UN-Habitat’s new vision of “a better quality of life for all in an urbanizing world” aligns fully with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, and called on the body to support the bold plans of the ministry to increase access to decent, quality, and affordable housing for all Nigerians, including those that fall within the low and medium-income segments of the country.   “We are counting on UN-Habitat to continue to render its technical support to the ministry as the focal point for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 11, which aims to make our towns and cities safe, resilient, and sustainable.   “Additionally, we would like to seek UN-Habitat’s collaboration in advancing the SDGs. Specific areas include helping us to mobilise multilateral funding for our Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrading Programme and the New City Development Project”, he said.   Speaking further, Dangiwa appreciated UN-Habitat for assisting with the review of the National Urban Development Policy (NUDP) and assured of the ministry’s commitment to complete and adopt the document with the technical support of the organization.   He further called for deepened collaboration between the ministry and UN-Habitat, noting that the meeting should mark a new, bolder, innovative, and more impactful partnership between the two parties; one that will see the ministry explore all the potentials and capacities of UN-Habitat to help achieve the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.   “I am impressed with your strategic plan for the period 2020-2023. In it, I see several points of intersection with the Renewed Hope Agenda of our government. This includes reduced spatial inequality and poverty in communities across the urban-rural continuum; enhanced shared prosperity of cities and regions; strengthened climate action and improved urban environment; as well as effective urban crisis prevention and response”, Dangiwa added.   Also discussed at the meeting was Nigeria’s $250,000 annual funding support to the UN-Habitat Support Office (UN-HAPSO) in Nigeria. The Minister assured the delegation of Nigeria’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations and has already set in motion the process to pay its statutory contribution to UN-Habitat, which was delayed due to the transition to a new administration in the country. He further stated that continued funding support to UN-Habitat’s office in Nigeria will reposition the office to adequately play its role in providing technical support services to housing and urban development stakeholders in the country.   The visit of UN-Habitat’s delegation comes as the ministry continues to unveil plans to make affordable homeownership accessible to more Nigerians, while also building sustainable cities and upgrading slums in the country. The intention of the ministry is to leverage the partnership with UN-Habitat to foster speedy and sustainable implementation of its plans for housing and urban development.   Arc. Dangiwa, therefore, called for series of future engagements with UN Habitat so that the activities and programmes mapped out in any future work plan will align with the priorities of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as mandated to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.   Responding, Oumar Sylla, the leader of the delegation, assured the Honourable Minister that the 2023-2027 work plan of the UN-Habitat for the country will definitely be aligned with the priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration. About UN Habitats: The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system.   UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination, and poverty. ...

Minister of Housing and Urban Development Calls on Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors to Uphold Ethics and Standards   Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, has called upon the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) to champion ethics and excellence within the construction and building sector in Nigeria. This call was made during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Institute to the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.   Emphasizing the vital role that the Institute plays in maintaining and elevating industry standards within the construction and building sector in Nigeria, the Minister stressed the importance of setting and upholding high ethical and professional standards among its members. He urged NIQS to take stringent disciplinary actions against those engaged in substandard practices. By doing so, he emphasized, the Institute would protect the reputation of the profession and substantially contribute to the safety and quality of construction in Nigeria.   According to Arc. Dangiwa, the Institute is a critical partner in the Ministry’s efforts to develop cost-effective housing designs and promote the construction of quality and affordable housing that caters to the income profiles of 80 percent of Nigerians falling within the low- and medium-income bracket.   “One of the central pillars of my tenure as the Minister of Housing and Urban Development is the prioritization of affordable housing. It is of utmost importance that we address the housing needs of the 80 percent of Nigeria's population who fall within the no-income, low to medium earners category. These hardworking citizens are equally deserving of living in decent, well-planned homes and neighborhoods that reflect the principles of inclusivity and fairness. Achieving this requires affordable housing design concepts based on the most efficient bills of quantities,” he stated.   He noted that in his first week in office, he set up an Affordable Housing Design Committee to develop more efficient design options that fit the income profiles of Nigerians within the low- and medium-income bracket.   “Our Ministry professionals have done a great job and we ll like to have your comments before we unveil them to the public. Our goal is to come up with the most efficient, workable, and sustainable affordable designs that will help us deliver on our mandate,” he noted.   “Your profession plays a key role in the delivery of affordable housing. Your ability to manage costs, optimize resources, and ensure quality and compliance directly impacts the feasibility of affordable housing projects. By leveraging your expertise, we can create sustainable, well-built, and affordable housing solutions for communities, promoting social development and economic progress.   Indeed, quantity surveyors are the custodians of fiscal responsibility in construction. Your discerning eyes prevent wastage, ensuring that resources are utilized efficiently. Through their expertise, they pave the way for affordable housing without compromise.”   Furthermore, the Minister expressed his deep appreciation for the expertise of quantity surveyors and acknowledged their ability to optimize resources, manage costs, and guarantee quality, all of which directly influence the feasibility of affordable housing projects.    He encouraged the NIQS to actively collaborate with the government in the ongoing review of building standards and regulations. The Minister emphasized the importance of aligning industry benchmarks with global best practices, ensuring they reflect the unique challenges and opportunities of the Nigerian construction sector.   In his remarks, President Shonubi Michael Olayemi commended the Ministry’s proactive approach towards affordable housing and assured the Minister of the NIQS’s commitment to collaboration. He reiterated the Institute's dedication to maintaining high standards within the industry and emphasized the importance of continuous professional development for quantity surveyors.   “The NIQS is deeply committed to ensuring that our members adhere to the highest ethical standards. We will collaborate with the Ministry to provide expert input during the review of building standards and regulations. Together, we can contribute significantly to the development of quality and affordable housing in Nigeria,” President Olayemi stated. ...

Ministry of Housing & Urban Development Plans Visionary Cross-Subsidization Initiative to Boost Inclusive & Affordable Housing The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has revealed plans to introduce a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionizing inclusivity and affordability in Nigeria through the introduction of cross subsidies in housing projects. This visionary strategy, championed by the Honorable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, promises to redefine housing accessibility by integrating a mix of low, medium, and high-end housing projects, ensuring inclusivity for Nigerians of all income brackets. Arc. Dangiwa, unveiled this innovative approach while reviewing affordable housing options presented by the Ministry’s Affordable Housing Building Design Committee. The Minister had established the Committee during his first week in office to review designs of Ministry’s projects and ensure that houses that the Ministry promotes fall within price-ranges that low- and medium-income earners can afford. The revised designs featured several cost-saving changes including organic one one-bedroom bungalows to lower cost of purchase while allowing beneficiaries the latitude to expand to two and three-bedrooms as his income increases, optimized space management, smart roofing techniques and basic internal finishings amongst several others.  In his remarks, Arc. Dangiwa commended the Design Team for their creativity. He also emphasized the necessity of embracing innovative concepts like cross subsidies to counter the challenges posed by inflation, the soaring costs of building materials, which have led to an increase in planned house prices.  "I am impressed with the work that the Affordable Housing Design Team has accomplished, thus far, in reducing the cost of houses that we plan to promote so that all Nigerians can benefit. While there is progress, the escalating cost of building materials has almost taken off all the savings from the revised designs. For us to achieve our goals, we have to think out of the box and embrace creative solutions. This is why we plan to work out a comprehensive framework for introducing cross subsidies in projects delivered through Public Private Partnerships and the agencies under the Ministry," stated Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development. He explained that cross subsidies are important policy tools used by governments and urban planners to address housing affordability issues and promote inclusive urban development.  He added that the approach involves redistributing the costs and benefits of housing development across different income groups. “The reality of the affordable housing debate is that many civil servants and other Nigerians working in the public sector cannot even afford a decent mortgage with their salaries. Our mechanism will be to promote market-based prices for high end developments to those who can afford it, thereby subsidizing housing costs for lower-income households.” The Ministry's vision for implementing cross-subsidy is rooted in a commitment to social equity and inclusive urban development. By strategically channeling profits from high-end housing projects, the Ministry aims to promote a housing landscape where every citizen, regardless of income, finds a place to call home. This approach is not merely about constructing houses; it's about fostering communities where opportunities are equal, and prosperity knows no bounds. Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa further elaborated on the Ministry's ambitious objective: "We are not driven by profit but the desire to ensure that all Nigerians have access to decent and affordable housing. Through cross-subsidy, we aspire to create a blueprint for a harmonious society, ensuring that the benefits of growth are shared by all. We are transforming the dream of affordable housing into a tangible reality for our citizens."   About Cross Subsidies for Housing: Housing projects are designed with a mix of units catering to varying income levels. Market-rate units are priced higher, often reflecting the actual cost of construction and profit margins for developers. Within the same project, a certain percentage of units are allocated as affordable housing. These units are sold or rented at prices significantly lower than the market rate. Revenues generated from the market-rate units subsidize the construction and maintenance costs of affordable units. This subsidization allows lower-income families to access housing at a reduced cost. Cross subsidies ensure that diverse income groups can reside within the same community, promoting social integration and preventing the formation of economically segregated neighborhoods. ...