Dangiwa Expresses Support for NUJ's Journalists’ Village Project
* acknowledges the crucial role of the media in national development
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has given his support to the NUJ FCT Council in order to bring to fruition, their Journalists village project in the FCT, Abuja.
He also gave assurance to include members of the FCT Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in the housing programmes of the Ministry.
The minister gave this assurance when a delegation from the NUJ FCT Council, led by its Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, paid him a courtesy visit at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Dangiwa acknowledged the crucial role of the media in National development, saying that they bridge the gap between government and the people, informing, explaining and challenging the government to do better.
The Minister equally expressed appreciation to the NUJ FCT Council for their consistent efforts alongside the Media and Communications team of the Ministry, in spotlighting the programmes of the Ministry and policy actions, despite resource constraints.
Dangiwa told the Journalists' Union about key programmes of the Ministry under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the Renewed Hope Housing Programme which he described as a transformative initiative designed to address housing deficit and create jobs.
Accordingly, he explained the three (3) structured components of the Renewed Housing Agenda to include; Renewed Hope Cities of 1000 units in each of the six geo-political zones and the FCT; Renewed Hope Estates of 250 units in each state capital; and Renewed Hope Social Housing planned for 100 housing units in each Local Government Area of the country.
The Minister further informed about the commencement of work for over 10,000 housing units across 14 states and the FCT, as well as the completion of more than 150 slum upgrade and urban renewal projects across the six geopolitical zones, delivering roads, solar streetlights, clean water, among others, to deserving communities.
Dangiwa also spoke about the transparency approach the ministry adopted in the sale of the houses by creating the Renewed Hope Housing Portal-www.renewedhopehomes.fmhud.gov.ng, in order to give all Nigerians a level playing opportunity to purchase the houses of their choice
Speaking on structural reform, Arc. Dangiwa informed of the Ministry’s collaboration with the state governments and the World Bank to modernize land administration by implementing the Nigeria Land Registration, Documentation, and Titling Programme, which would unlock more than $300 billion in dead capital, to boost investment and productivity.
Similarly, he also spoke of partnership with Shelter Afrique Development Bank to finance the construction of 5,000 affordable housing units, “we are laying the groundwork for Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs in each geopolitical zone to support domestic production and reduce construction costs”, he said.
The Minister while emphasizing on the significance of the media in national development, requested for continuous collaboration with the Union, in educating the public to dispel misinformation and highlight the importance of the programs of the Ministry.
Responding to the request of the Union on Journalists’ village project, Dangiwa gave assurance that Ministry will support the union in securing land and facilitate building the estate through the Cooperative Housing Development of Nigeria under the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).
He adviced that the Union secures a titled land as well as an architect who would design the houses, promising to direct the Federal Mortgage Bank to create corporative housing development to build the estate for the journalists, while the Union brings off takers who gets allocated to the houses, with a payment plan of up to thirty (30) years, at 6% interest rate.
Minister Dangiwa equally promised that the Ministry would inspect the ongoing pentagon building of the NUJ FCT council, for further necessary support.
Speaking earlier, the chairman of the NUJ FCT council, Comrade. Grace Ike, commended the visionary leadership of the Minister in the housing sector, describing it as bold, strategic and people-centred, with remarkable strides.
She applauded Minister Dangiwa’s global engagements, particularly at the World Urban Forum, as well as his commitment to disability-friendly housing in compliance with national laws.
Comrade Ike, sought the support and intervention of the Ministry in the NUJ FCT Journalists’ Village project in order to actualize affordable housing scheme for journalists; infrastructure support for the completion of a Pentagon building and a new ultramodern hall to accommodate over 2,000 journalists.
She also appealed for support in access to Housing finance and Capacity Building, seeking the inclusion of journalists in housing finance schemes through FMBN and other platforms.
“We are not just here with requests, we come as partners, ready to spotlight your successes, engage critically where needed, and be part of the national solution.
With your support, the NUJ FCT Council will continue to strengthen the pillars of democracy, holding the powerful accountable, while working with government to achieve national goals”, she voiced.
The Chairman, further extended an invitation to the Honorable Minister to be a special guest at the Press Week event of the Union, scheduled for next month.
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