HONOURABLE MINISTER OF STATE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF STATE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
On October 23, 2024, President Bola Tinubu appointed Yusuf Abdullahi Ata as the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, a position he assumed after being appointed as the federal Commissioner of Public Complaints Commission, Kano office, less than two weeks prior.

Ata's key contributions include developing affordable housing projects in Kano, community planning, and infrastructure development. He has also promoted urban renewal initiatives in Kano.

Before venturing into politics, Ata gained valuable experience in urban planning, housing, and education. He worked as a Principal Planning Officer at the Kano Housing Corporation (1994-1997) and as a State Inspector of Business at the Kano Educational Resource Centre (1992-1994).

Throughout his career, Ata has served in various capacities, including as Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly (2017-2018), Majority Leader (2015-2017), and Member of the Kano State House of Assembly (1999-2003, 2011-2019). He was also Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor (2003-2007).

Ata's education has given him a unique understanding of the economic factors influencing housing and urban development. 

He earned his MSc in Development Studies from Bayero University, Kano (BUK) between 2000 and 2002, and his BSc in Economics from the same institution between 1980 and 1984. He also holds a WAEC Certificate from Kano Community Commercial College (1975-1980) and a Primary School Certificate from Fagge Primary School, Kano (1969-1975).

Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata was born on June 22, 1962, in Fagge town, Kano State. Growing up in a community where development was crucial, he gained a deep understanding of good governance and community planning from an early age.

Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata is married, blessed with children, and grandchildren.

DR SHUAIB M. L. BELGORE

PERMANENT SECRETARY FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Shuaib Mohammad Lamido Belgore is a physician epidemiologist with bias in health administration, policy, and financing.

2.    Born on 9th August, 1967 in Kano, he attended Primary School at Capital School Kaduna and Secondary School at Command Secondary School Ibadan.

3.    He graduated from medical school at the University of Maiduguri in 1995. He further studied at the University of Oklahoma, United States, where he got his master’s degree in public health in the year 2000. He did his national youth service in the FCT, where he received an award for his service.

4.    Dr. Belgore has worked at the National Programme on Immunization (Now National Primary Healthcare Development Agency) before his appointment as the Human Health Coordinator of the World Bank Assisted Avian Influenza Control Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project in the Federal Ministry of Health.

5.    In this position, he coordinated the National Effort to prepare Nigeria for a possible influenza pandemic, which included the production of the National Pandemic Response Plan, establishment of the National Influenza Reference Laboratory in Abuja and five other Virology Laboratories, which are currently under the NCDC, as well as strengthening disease surveillance nationwide.

6.    Dr. Belgore worked as the Senior Technical Assistant to two Ministers in the Ministry of Health and was the Director in charge of Pandemic Preparedness in the Federal Ministry of Health.

7.    Dr. Belgore was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari on 26 August 2020 and assumed duty as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior on 30th September, 2020. 

8.    He coordinated and produced a 5-year Strategic Plan for the Ministry of Interior and its Services. He also established the implementation of Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) in an effort to make the operations of the Ministry paperless.

9.    Dr. Belgore effectively drove the implementation reforms of Correctional Service and Passport Application Process for efficiency.
He is a philanthropist, and he has donated wheelchairs to the physically challenged.

10.    He developed the Ministry of Interior Fusion Centre, and further automated the Citizenship & Business Department, and Finance and Accounts Departments in the Ministry of Interior, and the ICT multi-purpose Centre.

11.    In the course of his service, he ensured comprehensive staff training to enhance capacity. He operationalized Nigerian Internal Security and Public Safety Alert System (NISPSAS) also called N-Alerts which is used for crime reporting, and election monitoring as well as other relevant operational needs.

12.    He ensures the effective implementation of the Federal Civil Service Reform initiatives in the Ministry of Interior and its Agencies. 

13.    Dr. Belgore was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Regional Development where he has coordinated development programmes and projects in the Niger Delta Region, which includes: 

(a)    Infrastructure development - (Roads, Bridges, electrification projects, water supply projects), 
(b)    Housing and Urban Development (skill acquisition centers, Community Development Centers, Housing Developments, Management (Erosion control, dredging and canalization of waterways), 
(c)    Community Development and education (equipping of schools and hospitals, capacity building), 
(d)    Economic Empowerment (provision of equipment for SMEs and associated trainings).

14.    He is presently the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, and Urban Development.    

15    Dr. Belgore had the opportunity to visit every state in Nigeria in the course of discharging his duties in various capacities. He speaks Hausa and Yoruba fluently.