Dangiwa Charges Africa's Housing Ministers to Collaborate Towards Tackling Continent's Housing Challenges at 43rd SHAFDB AGM in Kigali   Kigali, Rwanda – June 11, 2024 - The Honorable Minister of Housing and Urban Development and 42nd AGM Bureau Chair of Shelter Afrique Development (ShafDB), Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has urged African housing ministers to work collaboratively to address the continent's pressing housing development challenges. This call to action was made during his opening remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the Bank’s 43rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) Symposium, holding at the Marriott Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda 11-13th June, 2024.   In attendance at the opening ceremony were the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, represented by the Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Edouard Ngirente, Ministers of Housing and Public Works from several African countries, organized sector and private sector players.    Stressing the importance of innovative financing, Dangiwa underscored the crucial role of ShafDB as Africa’s premier housing finance institution, stating, "ShafDB is Africa’s housing finance bank, the only such institution that we have. It is therefore important that we all continue to give the bank all the support that it requires to grow, scale in impact and deliver on its mandate." He highlighted the necessity for continued support to the bank to enable it to scale its impact and deliver on its mandate of providing affordable, decent, and quality housing across Africa.   As part of efforts to institutionalize partnerships, the Hon. Minister unveiled plans to launch a Financial Caucus of African Ministers of Housing and Urban Development during the AGM. This platform, he noted, aims to foster synergy, share experiences, and develop innovative measures to bolster housing development across African nations. He emphasized, "The African housing problem is for Africa to solve. And we as Ministers of Housing must recognize that we are the ones responsible for providing the solutions and driving the process towards fixing Africa’s housing challenge." He reiterated that solving Africa’s housing problem requires a unified approach, urging ministers to work together, share lessons, and engage with external stakeholders collectively.    “At the end of this AGM, we also plan to have a Kigali Declaration to signify and communicate our collective desire to Prioritize housing development and commit to taking concrete steps towards making a substantial difference. The Kigali Declaration aims to unify our voices to achieve common goals and tackle shared challenges. It seeks to highlight to the global community the urgent need for coordinated action on climate change, emphasizing its impact on Africa.   It is important to state that the Kigali Declaration will not just be words on paper. We have ensured that it is based on a well-prepared roadmap for "How to Finance and Deliver," leveraging the professional expertise around Shelter Afrique Development Bank. Our aim is to make a difference. And this is possible”, he noted.    Dangiwa also highlighted the critical role of the housing industry in achieving climate ambition and sustainability targets in the face of climate change. He called for a commitment to upholding the laws and statutes governing ShafDB and praised the perseverance and strategic planning that have led to significant achievements over the past year. "Our achievements over the past year underscore the importance of strategic planning and building strong connections," he noted.   Highlighting a major accomplishment, Dangiwa announced the overwhelming support from member States for the ratification of the new statutes during the Extraordinary General Assembly in Algiers. He stated, "This consensus is a significant milestone in our journey to establish the Shelter Afrique Development Bank." Despite some delays in the full ratification process, he emphasized the need to address these challenges promptly to continue the bank's growth trajectory.   The Hon. Minister expressed his gratitude to the President of Rwanda, His Excellency Paul Kagame, and the Government of Rwanda for hosting the AGM. He noted, "The beauty, neatness and orderliness of Kigali and its hospitality is simply breathtaking." Additionally, he thanked the ShafDB Board of Directors, led by Dr. Chii Akporji, for their support throughout his tenure as Chairperson of the 42nd AGM Bureau, acknowledging the significant milestones achieved under their guidance.   In addition, Dangiwa underscored the importance of building robust alliances and sustaining momentum. He expressed confidence in the incoming Chair of the 43rd AGM Bureau, Hon. Dr. Jimmy Gasore, to guide the revitalization process effectively. He said, "I am optimistic and anticipate that the new Chair of the 43rd AGM Bureau possesses the capacity to effectively guide this revitalization process."   Dangiwa expressed his gratitude to all participants for their commitment and collaboration, emphasizing the importance of staying united to overcome new and existing challenges. He stated, "Regardless of the decisions we make, I am confident that we will make them together, as a united body."   Speaking at the event, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of ShafDB, Mr. Thierno Hann and the Board Chairperson, Dr. Chii Akporji reinforced the Hon. Minister’s call for collaboration stating that the Bank had undergone significant reforms and reorganization and is now better positioned to deliver on its mandate of providing affordable to citizens of its member countries. They encouraged African countries to double down on their support of the Bank by making timely payments of the capital subscriptions and enabling effective project implementation.  ...

Slums Ugrade, Urban Renewal Projects,  Impactful on Living Conditions of People  - Dangiwa    ..... advocates amendments to national urban planning   Minister of Housing and Urban Development Arc Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has stated that slums upgrade and urban renewal projects have significant impact on the lives and living conditions of the people.    He listed housing upgrade, sanitation, environmental protection, agricultural support, boreholes and solar powered street lights among others, as projects that will enhance aesthetics and functional spaces, as well as impact the economy.   Dangiwa spoke when he hosted the House of Representatives Commitee on Urban Development and Regional Planning who came on an oversight visit to the Ministry.   The minister, in this regard, advocates for constitutional amendment to ensure urban and regional planning is placed in the concurrent list of the constitution and also called for an enactment of a bill for the establishment of National Urban Observatory that would collect urban sector data in order to have effective implementation of urban and regional planning projects.   Accordingly, Dangiwa listed some of the challenges affecting effective implementation of urban development projects as; non availability of reliable human settlements data-store for planning purposes, and inadequate policy back-up and structure for country wide efforts to reposition urban planning and regional development sector, for the benefit of all.   Similarly, the Minister explained some of the activities of the ministry's department of urban development and regional planning which includes, Preparation of National Physical Development Plan, Preparation of Physical Development Plans, Preparation of Urban Resilience and Sustainability Plans.   He further stated that the department is also engaged in Urban Sector Multilateral programmes like; Executive Board Meetings of UN HABITAT, which Nigeria is currently holding the Chair of the Executive Board;  Shelter Afrique (A Pan- African finance) Development Control Directorate, responsible for monitoring and control of development on Federal Government Lands and Estates;  Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrading Programme, under which technical needs assessment studies of Slums in Nigerian cities were conducted.   Earlier, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning,  Honourable Abiante Awaji, said the Committee was in the ministry to fulfill it's  critical part of it's oversight mandate to assess performance, establish effective utilization of resources, identify challenges with a view to ensuring service delivery that would impact the lives of the Nigerian citizens.   He stated that the Oversight Visit was in furtherance of Constitutional mandate of the legislative arm of the government overseeing activities of the executive arm.   ...

Dangiwa Expresess Ministry's Readiness, Participation in Community Engagement Programme    Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has expressed the readiness of the ministry to participate in the community engagement programme in order to ensure the impact of the policies, projects and programmes of the federal government through the housing sector is felt at the communities.   Dangiwa gave the assurance when he received the team of Senior Special Assistants to the President on Communty Engagement, on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.   The Senior Special Assistants to the President on Community Engagement are; Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, (NW),  Abiodun Essiet (NC), Chioma Nweze (SE), Gift Johnbull (SS), Abdulhamid Yahaya (NE) and Moremi Ojudu for South West.   Dangiwa expressed optimism to engage with the team considering how pertinent their mandate is, saying that they provide a bridge between the presidency and the grassroots, as well as between the Ministry and the communities.   While reiterating his appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for demerging the Ministry from that of works, Dangiwa noted that housing is one sector that increases the GDP of a Nation and creates jobs, in the sense that for every house built, up to 25 jobs is created for the skilled and unskilled labourers.   He also told the team the core functions of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development which is to increase the supply of affordable houses to Nigerians and to ensure that the urban and rural areas are developed in a way that the slums are upgraded, by increasing sanitation, support drainages, security lights, among others.   Similarly, the minister informed the team that the Housing Ministry was included by Mr. President in the supplementary budget of 2023 with 100bn, from which 20bn was integrated into building the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates, while 50bn integrated into slum upgrade and urban renewal.   “We have done ground breaking for Katsina, Kano and Sokoto states in the North West, Yobe and Gombe States in the North East; we are still awaiting the sites in Nassarawa and Benue States for the North Central zone. The others in the South due to time limit we have to now schedule it till after sallah to start precisely from the 24th, we are planning to do the groundbreaking for the south western states in Oyo and Osun States, South East we have Ebonyi and Abia, South South we have Akwa Ibom and Delta States”, he stated.   The Minister also explained that the Renewed Hope Cities are high rise multi storey block of flats and terraces supposed to be in each geo-political zone, aimed at decongesting the city centers to make another city, while for the Renewed Hope Estates he said they are to be done in the remaining 30 states.   “For the Cities we have just taken Kano as one of it, we are planning to do public private partnership in other cities, we have done one here in FCT at Karsana, commissioned by Mr. President to contain over 3112 housing units, and the project is ongoing. We are thinking Lagos through the funding of the FMBN where 1500 units have already been recorded and construction has already started”, he said.   Accordingly, the minister told the team that  the Ministry intends to take four states in each geo political zones of the Country and two in the FCT for the Slum Upgrade, pointing out the components of the projects which are basically drainages, roads, street lights, sanitation and schools; according to him, this would be done closely with the National Assembly members who are much closer to their citizens and know their problems better.   Under the National Housing Program, the Minister noted that the previous administration completed 3000 out of 6000 houses in 33 states; He said the houses which are still largely unoccupied were receiving attention from the Ministry, and renovation ongoing for some of the dilapidated ones. He said the Ministry is currently working with the controllers of housing in the states where the projects are located, and has also given out forms to sell them off to interested buyers through different subscription options such as outright purchase, mortgage, installmental payments or rent-to-own.   Similarly, the minister informed the team about the web portal recently launched by the Ministry in order to enhance subscription for the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates, “ the portal has been launched and people are subscribing into the houses that are being built now in these 13 states plus the ones at the Karsana site, it has been made easier and simpler for people to go into and they are happily doing that” he stated.   He further told the team of SSA’s that the selection of the construction sites was on a first come first serve basis, explaining that a letter was written to all the state governors appealing for 50 hectares of land for the Renewed Hope Estates.   Responding to the request for a desk officer at the Ministry, the Minister directed that they meet through the Permanent Secretary, the Directors of the Public Building and Special Project departments, who are in charge of all the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates as well as the Urban Slum Upgrade, respectively, for any information they need.   Also on their request to attend commissioning of sites and housing units in states alongside the Ministry, Dangiwa said that the groundbreaking for the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates would recommence on the 24th of June immediately after the sallah celebration for the South West, South East and South South states, including Nasarawa State.   “When the time table is drawn, you can get it from the public building department so that the person in charge for those regions can join us”, he assured.   Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant, North West, Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, informed the Minister about their mandate which is bridging between the presidency and global citizens by way of localizing to ensure that the policies, projects and programmes of the Federal Government get to those at the grassrooot.   While noting that the people at the community level needs awareness to allow for feedback on the successes recorded by the Ministry in terms of provision of affordable houses, the team expressed their interest to collaborate with the Ministry and take the housing programmes to the communities across the six geo-political zones, engaging and informing them of how they can access the housing projects.   They commended the slum upgrade initiative of the Ministry, and assured to engage the slum dwellers and communicate the plans of the Ministry as well as how they can key in and also use their own capacity to support in their own way to develop the slums.   The team requested for a desk officer to work with during the engagements at different communities so as to properly address issues and provide information regarding how people can access the houses. ...