We are Commited to Driving Historic Housing Reforms  - Dangiwa    Minister of Housing and Urban Development Arc Ahnmed Musa Dangiwa has stated that the ministry under his watch is committed to driving historic housing reforms by increasing access to affordable housing for all Nigerians across all the group and income brackets.   Dangiwa stated this when the President and Chairman of Committee on Construction Projects and Infrastructure of the Nigerian Bar Association, Section on Business Law, (NBA-SBL), Andrew Osemedua Edum, SAN paid him a courtesy visit, Wednesday,  August 14th, 2024    The minister, who revealed that 80 percent of Nigerians are low income earners, explained that the four housing sector reform task teams initiated by the ministry upon his assumption of office were meant to position the ministry in a better stead to deliver it's Presidential mandate of increasing the stock of affordable housing for Nigerians  The reform task teams listed by the minister were; Housing Institutions reform task team, Land reform task team, Building materials manufacturing hub, saying that their reports would soon be on stream for implementation to drive the housing sector.   The NBA- SBL Commitee is seeking collaboration with the ministry in Real Estate projects, Construction of Bridges and Rail lines as part of their inputs towards actualization of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.   Arc. Dangiwa said the only way to make a sustainable difference is for all the key players in the housing value chain to be reformed, work optimally and deliver their mandates.   He further said it's not enough to build houses but to have a system that will work efficiently and to deliver results practically and maximally. "The ministry is ready to partner with you and all other relevant bodies"  He said.   The Minister told them about the Renewed Hope Cities and Estate programme which was launched with the groundbreaking performed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in February, 2024, with 3,112 housing units in Karsana, Abuja.    Accordingly, he added that both the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates have commerced in all the six geopolitical zones of the Country, and is creating job opportunities to the Nigerian youths.    Arc Dangiwa also informed the Committe that, plans are underway for National Social Housing Funds to mobilize, also to administer and allocate affordable, decent and accessible houses for those who doesn't have an income, the low income earners, homeless, vulnerables and underprivileged in the society, saying, the funds will be sourced from the fuel subsidy removal  and profits after tax.   The Minister expressed satisfaction for the initiatives of the NBA-SBL Committee and assured them of his readiness to partner with them, as the ministry is also partnering with National Skills Acquisition programme and National Population Commission.    He assured a better housing programme in Nigeria if all the housing agencies work together to deliver their mandates.   On the challenge of building collapse,  Dangiwa disclosed that "there is going to be a checklist to monitor and prosecute any building collapse in Nigeria'"    Earlier speaking,  the President and Chairman of the NBA-SBL Committee, Andrew Osemedua Edum, SAN, said, they came to seek Institutional Collaboration with the ministry.   He used the occasion to invite the Honourable Minister to attend the Second National Conference on Construction Projects and Infrastructure as a guest to deliver a key note address at the conference.   The conference is scheduled to take place from November 27th to 30th, November, 2024. at Abuja Continental Hotel, with the theme " Making Construction Projects and Infrastructure Better in Nigeria"    My Edum further said the conference will tackle some of the issues confronting the building industry especially the menace in building collapse in Nigeria, Real Estate and Financing. He said all relevants stakeholders have been invited from both Federal and State level, local and international.   ...

NHP Houses: Ministry Begins 1st Batch Issuance of Offer Of Provisional  Allocation    The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development commenced the issuance of 1st batch Offer of Provisional Allocation to the Outright Subscribers of Houses under the National Housing Programme (NHP).   Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, disclosed this in his office in Abuja.    The issuance of the 1st batch offer of provisional allocation which began in April, 2024 was sequel to the review of the conditions and procedures for the sales of houses under the NHP conveyed on the 29th, December, 2023 via a circular Ref no. DPBH/645/1/43.   Dr. Ogunbiyi disclosed that, a number of Outright Payment Subscribers have completed their payments, while some have started making deposit payments, but yet to complete their payments.   Accordingly, he also reminded the subscribers under the 1st batch Offer of provisional allocation of the NHP Housing Units that the validity period for the completion of all payment was 90 days.   " By this information, the Ministry is informing all the 1st batch Outright Subscribers who are yet to complete their payments for the houses offered them, that a grace of eight (8) weeks is now given to them within which they are advised to complete all their payments " he said.   The Permanent further stated that, any subcriber who fails to complete payment within the eight (8) weeks grace period will have his Offer revoked.   ...

Housing Perm Sec, Ogunbiyi Assures Staff of Better Days Ahead    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, has assured staff of the ministry of better days ahead.    He gave this assurance, Friday,  August 9th, 2024, during his interaction with the staff of the ministry to brief them on the ongoing transformational projects lined up for execution in the ministry.   Dr. Ogunbiyi told the staff that the challenges of office and parking space, and that of electricity and water supplies would soon be a thing of the past as the ministry was already addressing them assiduously.    " Very soon all those issues will be a thing of the past as concrete and deliberate  measures have been put in place to ensure an enhanced and conducive working environment is provided " he stated    The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the ministry will soon take possession of one of it's office building that has been occupied by another ministry to provide additional space for the staff.    He also mentioned that staff training and welfare would be a priority under his watch in order to encourage and motivate the teaming staff for high performance and productivity    While appreciating members of staff for their patience and perseverance in the discharge of their duties under the circumstances, Dr Ogunbiyi stated that "No pain No gain" as there would be a greater value rewards for hard work in the service.   ...