Dangiwa Lauds Pulako Resettlement Programme for Displaced Nigerians •    Thanks President Tinubu for trusting him with "crucial national assignment" Following his inauguration as Chairman of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the Pulako Initiative, a large-scale resettlement programme aimed at revitalizing communities affected by banditry and displacements, by His Excellency, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has expressed his appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as a "crucial national assignment". Arc. Dangiwa thanked the President for trusting him with such an important task of overseeing the efforts towards providing succour to victims of banditry in the country. He noted that providing resettlement options and revitalizing affected communities are part of the government's commitment to decent shelter for the vulnerable in society. The committee, inaugurated at the State House on Tuesday 13th February 2024, will initially focus on seven states that have been disproportionately affected by banditry and conflicts. They are Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna States. The Minister said he considered the appointment as a huge responsibility which he is committed to delivering on as Chairman.  "I am profoundly thankful to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for his steadfast dedication to addressing systemic challenges to national unity, uplifting our nation, and ensuring the welfare and security of its citizens. Like several other programmes under the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President, the Pulaku Initiative serves as a beacon of hope for a better and more inclusive Nigeria. "As we embark on this significant undertaking, I am optimistic about the transformative impact that the Pulaku Resettlement Programme can have on our communities and our country. With the collective efforts of the State Governments, the distinguished committee members, and the support of stakeholders, I am confident that we can implement the initiative in a way that helps it create sustainable impact in the communities impacted by banditry crisis through the construction of residences, roads, schools, and provision of essential facilities to enhance living standards", Dangiwa said. Other members of the Committee include representatives of governors of the benefiting states, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari; Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate; Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede; Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mamman Ahmadu; BUA Group, Dangote Group, and the Director General of NEMA, amongst others. The Minister gave the assurance that he would work closely with all members of the committee towards actualizing the mandate. ...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Unveils Ambitious Nationwide Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme ●    Commends Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development on plans to turn Nigeria into a huge construction site.  ●    Housing Minister reels out plans for more new cities ad estate developments in Abuja, Lagos, twelve other locations nationwide. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR has officially launched the Nationwide Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme with the groundbreaking of a 3,112-housing unit project at the Karsana District in the Federal Capital Territory. The historic event which took place on Thursday, February 8, 2023 is in line with the government’s plans to provide decent, quality and affordable housing to Nigerians across all income brackets.  The Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Project, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, aims to revolutionize housing across the nation. In its initial phase, the Ministry plans to construct 50,000 housing units of diverse types, leveraging various funding streams such as budgetary allocations, support from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), and strategic Public-Private Partnerships. During the launch event, President Tinubu underscored the paramount importance of housing as a fundamental human right, emphasizing the government's duty to ensure its provision for all citizens. He lauded the Ministry's dedication to transforming Nigeria into a construction powerhouse, signaling a robust commitment to national development. "I listened to the Minister say they are committed to transforming Nigeria into a giant construction site of Housing units. "He has shown that he is an exemplary champion that understands how to use housing as a catalyst for economic resurgence and national development. We must all be positive about our country and work together so that we can win together", he said. Addressing the audience, Honorable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, reiterated the Ministry's unwavering commitment to actualizing the Renewed Hope Vision. He outlined plans to deliver 50,000 housing units nationwide, strategically distributed across the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory, catering to various income levels and housing needs. Arc. Dangiwa further disclosed upcoming projects, including a 2,500-unit development in Ibeju-Lekki Coastal City, Lagos, and the establishment of Renewed Hope Estates in Kano and twelve other states. These initiatives, supported by government funding allocations, represent a significant step towards bridging the housing gap and promoting inclusive urban development. “Under phase One, we plan to deliver a total of 50,000 housing units across Nigeria. The Cities will have 1,000 housing units per site in one location in each of the six geo-political zones in the country and FCT, while the Estates will have 500 housing units per site in the remaining thirty (30) States.  We have designed the Renewed Hope Cities as integrated living communities targeting all income brackets. They comprise one-bedroom blocks of flats, two-bedroom blocks of flats and three- bedroom blocks of flats; two-, three- and four-bedroom terraces, four-bedroom duplexes, and five-bedroom duplexes,” he said. “On the other hand, we have conceptualized the Renewed Hope Estates to cater to low- and medium-income earners. They comprise one-, two-, and three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows. To enhance affordability and ease of offtake, we used organic designs where one bedroom can be expanded to two-bedrooms and three-bedrooms as the income of beneficiaries increase over time.  Furthermore, the program aims to address social inequality by providing a broad range of affordable ownership options. This includes single digit and up to 30-year mortgage loans to be provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Rent-to-Own options where beneficiaries can move in and pay towards homeownership in monthly, quarterly, or annual instalments and Outright Purchase for high income earners” he added. Expressing gratitude, Arc. Dangiwa acknowledged the president's crucial support, which included substantial budgetary allocations for housing and urban development initiatives. He also recognized the collaboration with other ministries and stakeholders, including the Ministry of Information and the FCT Minister, emphasizing the collective effort required to realize transformative change. The Karsana project exemplifies the innovative PPP model, with developers financing construction while the Ministry facilitates off-taker arrangements through flexible homeownership options like Rent-to-Own and Mortgage schemes. This approach not only accelerates project implementation but also fosters an enabling environment for sustainable urban growth. Arc. Dangiwa appealed for collaboration in infrastructure development, highlighting the importance of access roads to facilitate project execution and alleviate urban congestion. With a shared commitment to Renewed Hope, stakeholders stand poised to usher in a new era of prosperity and progress for all Nigerians. ...

Tinubu to Flag off 3,112 Housing Units as FG Launches Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to flag off the construction of 3,112 housing units at the Karsana area of the Federal Capital Territory.  The groundbreaking exercise, scheduled for Thursday 8th of February 2024, is part of a Public-Private Partnership project signed in December 2023 between the Ministry and a consortium of companies comprising Continental Civil and General Construction Limited and Ceezali Limited for a total of 100,000 housing units nationwide. The first phase of 20,000 housing units is set to be delivered in the FCT, out of which 3,112 units are to be constructed at the Karsana site. The ground-breaking exercise to be conducted by the President will mark the official launch of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programme, initiated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to increase the housing stock in the country and bridge the prevailing housing deficit. The Cities will have a minimum of 1,000 housing units per site in one location in each of the six geo-political zones of the country and the FCT, while the Estates will have a minimum of 500 housing units per site in the remaining thirty (30) States. The Renewed Hope Cities and Estates, as the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has continued to emphasize, will be designed as integrated living communities targeting all income brackets, and comprising one bedroom block of flats, two-bedroom blocks of flats, and three-bedroom blocks of flats targeting low – medium income earners; two-bedroom terraces, four-bedroom terraces, four-bedroom duplexes, and five-bedroom duplexes targeting high income earners. The PPP project at Karsana is being funded by the developers who also sourced for the land, while the Ministry is creating the enabling environment and will facilitate access by off-takers for the houses from subscribers to the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme managed by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), an agency under the Ministry. The project is the first in a series that the Ministry will be embarking on in the coming weeks. Others are the 2,500 Renewed Hope City housing units at the Ibeju-Lekki Coastal City, Lagos, 500-housing unit Renewed Hope Estate in Kano and 250 housing units in twelve (12) states, two in each geopolitical zone, as Renewed Hope Estates in Ogun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Abia, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Benue, Yobe, Gombe, Katsina and Sokoto.  At the core of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programme is the cross-subsidy component where 80% of the housing units developed will be sold at commercial rate while 20% will be sold at concessionary rates to low- and medium-income Nigerians who are members of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress. The idea is to deploy profits made from the commercial units as a subsidy for the units reserved for low- and medium-income earners. Also notable are the numerous ownership options available to Nigerians aimed at enhancing the affordability of the houses. These include single digit, 30-year mortgage loans to be provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Rent-to-Own options where beneficiaries can move in and pay towards homeownership in monthly, quarterly or annual instalments, and Outright Purchase for high income earners. It would be recalled that the President approved N100bn for the Ministry in the 2023 Supplementary budget and N18.9billion in the 2024 budget for the implementation of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates as well as Urban and Slum Upgrading programmes. The Renewed Hope Cities and Estates project also made the list of the President's Top 10 projects for 2024, spurring widespread optimism about his commitment to the project. ...