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. ...

Housing Ministry Will Ensure Disability Friendly Buildings, Compliance  - Dangiwa    The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has assured that it is mindful of all the relevant sections in the provisions of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 that ensures the rights to accessible structures for persons with disabilities.   Minister of Housing and Urban Development Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa gave this assurance when a delegation from National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) paid him a courtesy visit.   He acknowledged that housing was key to human development as well as a human right to all Nigerians as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and as such the Ministry was mindful of all the provisions in the Act establishing the Commission in ensuring that houses being delivered were mindful of the Accessibility Act or Regulations in the document.   “We are glad that you brought the document to us today, we will henceforth look at it to ensure that our houses are very much affordable, accessible and acceptable to the commission”, he said.    He informed that the Housing Ministry being one of the first few Ministries that has adopted the regulations in the document, has started the implementation with actions such as the addition of a ramp at the entrance of the Ministry to enable easy access to people with disabilities and the installation of an elevator to assist staff and visitors within this category access offices upstairs.   On section 7  of the Act which mandated that Persons With Disabilities should be first considered in accessibility to houses constructed by government, Dangiwa assured the commission that his ministry would comply, emphasising that maximum  scrutiny of building plans would be done before approval of building plan to certify provision of accessibility facilities are incorporated.   Accordingly, the Minister stated that the ministry is mindful of the penalty against defaulting any of  the regulations.   The Minister further explained that the ministry has demonstrated it in its public buildings by making sure all the federal secretariat buildings Nationwide being managed by the Ministry are fully equipped with accessibility facilities.   He noted that among the plans rolled out for all Nigerians including the persons with disabilities under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu include groundbreaking for the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates program in 13 states and FCT.   To this end, he disclosed that the housing units being built under the program are made affordable, accessible and acceptable to Nigerians through ownership options such as outright purchase, installmental payment, mortgage and rent-to-own, to which the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) provides a single digit interest rates to run for thirty years.     The Minister further explained  that the houses are being built organically to allow owners build  more rooms as their income or family increases.   In the area of urban renewal, Dangiwa also notified the delegation that the National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade has been flagged off in twenty eight sites, four sites each in each geopolitical zone and the FCT, respectively. “This entails accessible roads, drainages, water supply, sanitation and solar street lights to some of the identified slum areas”, he explained.   Accordingly, Minister Dangiwa told the team that the Ministry is also pursuing the establishment of National Social Housing Fund (NSHF) for the provision of accessible housing to all Nigerians,  targeting  the low and no income, underprivileged as well as the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).   “We want to ensure that we have a minimum of 100 houses in the 774 local governments Nationwide where the underprivileged, IDPs as well as the no income have access to affordable housing”, he said.   The Minister also added that the Ministry has commenced the sale of houses built  under the National Housing Program through advertisements,  assuring the delegation  the Ministry would avail them with the location of the housing units for accessibility.   He commended the presentation of the document containing the provisions of the discrimination against persons with disabilities prohibition act of 2018, assuring that it would be passed across to the design department to ensure further compliance with the regulations.   Speaking earlier,  Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons Living with Disabilities and  leader of  the delegation, James David Lalu, PhD, made an appeal for  the ministry to consider Persons Living with Disabilities in Renewed Hope Housing Estates as it would enable them own a home of their own.   While stating some of the relevant provisions of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 that ensure the rights to accessible  structures for persons with disabilities, Lalu appealed for compliance to ensure that houses for its members include necessary adjustments to accommodate their disabilities.   "The regulation is what the persons living with disabilities want to see in the public buildings," adding "all the necessary specifications, designs, accessibility facility to be fitted in the public buildings so that our people will have have access to public building," he spoke passionately.   ...