Housing Ministry To Create Task Team On Properties, Lands, Ground Rent in States    * Regular field supervision, communication by states' controllers would provide needed update - Belgore  The Permanent Secretary,  Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore has informed of the Ministry’s intention to create a Task Team in every state to ensure proper audit of the Ministry's properties and land in the states of the Federation, as well as look into the collection of ground rent on those properties.   Dr. Belgore, stated this during his interactive session with the 36 states and FCT Federal Controllers of Housing, held at the Ministry's Headquarters in Abuja.   Belgore explained that the task team will include the controller in every state, representatives from the state and Federal Housing Authority, with the Surveyor -General of the Federation as the Chairman of the Task Team.   He assured them of his readiness to providing them with the resources they would need to execute their jobs so that they would not have excuse for not doing them correctly, adding that portion of the revenue will be retained for fieldwork and evaluation.    On the relevance of the assignment, he stated that "field audits and professional oversight will ensure quality and efficiency", stressing that the importance of regular  field supervision and open communication by the controllers would provide needed update to the headquarters on state-level activities.   While charging the states' controllers on teamwork for the ministry to be effective in the discharge of its mandate, he described teamwork, hard work, and quality in project execution as essential elements to achieving successes.     " The ministry’s effectiveness depends significantly on the collaboration and dedication of its state housing controllers", he stated.   He acknowledged the vital role of the Federal Controllers in coordinating the ministry’s projects in the states and ensuring their seamless execution.   Accordingly,  Dr. Belgore highlighted the necessity of hands-on field experience, noting that effective project management cannot be learned in an office setting, but rather through active engagement on project's sites, informing that their task would include training and mentoring of new officers when the time comes.   While expressing concern over the ministry’s human capacity challenges, giving that  many officers were close to retirement, he mentioned that the ministry is planning to engage experienced professionals and implement training and mentoring programs of which the Federal Controllers will be involved in field training due to their wealth of experience.   On their part, the Federal Controllers requested the Ministry to renew the contracts of facility managers for projects in the states to avoid being vandalised by miscreants.   Earlier, Director, Human Resources in the Ministry, Akinola Adeshina, said the meeting summoned at the behest of the Permanent Secretary was to ensure synergy between the headquarters and Federal Controllers.   The engagement with state controllers indicates a hands-on approach to addressing operational challenges and enhancing efficiency at both federal and state levels.   ...

Belgore Receives NIA's Leadership On Courtesy visit, Pleadges Enhanced Collaboration, Culture of Hardwork Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore has played host to the leadership of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) on a courtesy visit to his office, and pledged enhanced working Collaboration and culture of hardwork with the institute.     Dr Belgore expressed delight over the visit and the pledge of closer collaboration by the NIA, assuring that the Ministry would give all necessary support to the institute to ensure high standard in the construction industry .   While showing concern over the dispute preventing the registration of architects over a period close to 10 years, Dr. Belgore promised to double effort to ensure resolution of all issues in no distant time.   “Next week we are going to Lagos for a retreat. I’m sure you would get an invitation  to be part of it, perhaps while there, we will resolve all this in the meeting and sort everything out so that our children can get registered.” he stated.   Reacting on closing the housing deficit, sustainable urban planning, affordable housing and community engagements raised by the NIA, the Permanent Secretary noted that they are issues that aligned with the presidential deliverables of the Ministry and encouraged the partnership of the institute with the ministry in that regard.   On the other hand,  Dr Belhore frowned at the menace of building collapses particularly in newer constructions, emphasizing on the need to improve the quality of building materials and adhering to standards in order to correct the hazard.   He disclosed that the Ministry is looking into the standardizing certification for artisans into construction, “we are building schools and we want to have a situation where every artisan has a certification”.   Accordingly, the Permanent Secretary explored the possibility for the ministry establishing an agency for building material standards that would be saddled with the issuance of building material standard certificates.   Belgore also emphasized the importance of team work in moving the Ministry and Country forward by providing excellent service to Nigerians.   Speaking earlier, the  President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to addressing the nation’s housing and urban development challenges through strategic collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.   Arc Adeniyi emphasised the crucial role of  effective partnership in solving Nigeria’s housing deficit, highlighting the readiness of the institute to introduce innovative designs, promote the use of sustainable materials, and enhance community engagement to create more inclusive and resilient urban spaces.   As part of efforts to ensure quality and safety in the construction industry, Adeniyi requested that the Building Materials Standards Organization be moved to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development from the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), saying that, it will strengthen regulatory oversight, tackle the proliferation of substandard building materials, and curb the increasing cases of building collapses across the country. ...

Dangiwa Calls for Excellence, Dispute-Free Construction Industry   *  says ICIArb provides a robust framework for resolving disputes   * dispute-free culture in construction industry ensures timely housing, infrastructure projects delivery  Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to fostering a dispute-free environment in Nigeria’s construction industry.    The Minister made this assertion while receiving members of the Institute of Construction Industry Arbitrators (ICIArb), at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja today.   The Institute of Construction Industry Arbitrators (ICIArb), is a leading arbitral institution dedicated to resolving disputes in Nigeria’s construction sector.    The minister acknowledged the institute’s expertise in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as arbitration, mediation, and conciliation, saying that it provides a robust framework for resolving disputes in a timely, cost-effective, and amicable manner.    “By promoting a culture of dispute-free construction, we can ensure that our housing and infrastructure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality, he stated.   Dangiwa made reference to the approval for the insertion of the ICIArb arbitration clause in building contracts during the 12th Meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing, and Urban Development held in Kaduna State, saying it was a notable milestone in the collective efforts to streamline dispute resolution mechanisms in the construction industry.   According to the Minister, the clause applies to building contracts, tenancy agreements, leases, and facility management contracts to reduce litigation and ensure smoother project execution.   While emphasizing that delays caused by bureaucracy and contractors prioritizing financial gains over project completion often leads to cost overruns and budget inefficiencies, Dangiwa assured that the ministry was implementing strategies to ensure timely project execution and delivery.   Accordingly, he called for stronger partnerships among relevant stakeholders in the built environment so as to create enabling environment for the construction industry, pointing out that capacity-building initiatives and public awareness campaigns would drive industry excellence and efficiency.   Speaking earlier, the President of the ICIArb, Chief Felix Okereke Onyeri, requested partnership with Ministry in order to promote seamless dispute resolution culture in the housing sector.   He sought the Minister's support in implementing the Institute's arbitration clause in building contracts, as approved by the 12th National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development; and as well, offered collaboration to ensure compliance to the content of the clause by ministries and agencies.   ...