National Council on Housing Meeting Opens in Sokoto. The eleventh (11th) meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development has commenced in Sokoto, Sokoto State, North West, Nigeria, Monday, July 25th, 2022. The four-day meeting has the theme "Housing Our People by All of Government and All Our People." The meeting is taking place at Dankani Guest Palace Hotels Limited in the city of Sokoto. This annual meeting of stakeholders in the built industry is being organized by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing as part of its statutory mandate. The meeting is significant as stakeholders in the housing sector have the opportunity to gather, brainstorm, share ideas, identify challenges in the sector and adopt policies that will impact on moving the sector forward in the delivery of affordable houses to Nigerians. Participants at the meeting included; State Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, General Managers of Housing Corporations, Surveyor -Generals, Professional/Regulatory Agencies in the housing sector and other stakeholders in the built industry In an introductory remark, the Director, Planning, Research & Statistics, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Olajide Ode-Martins noted that the Federal Government would vitally need the full participation and collaboration of the State Governments and Private Sector in increasing the stock of affordable housing to Nigerians. " The theme of the Meeting presupposes that Federal Government alone cannot address the gap in the housing development across the country which brings to focus the fact that, State Governments and the Private Sectors are critical stakeholders that have to collaborate effectively towards addressing the housing challenges by bringing to the forefront desirable strategies to increase the stock of affordable houses to Nigerians," he said In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Lands, Housing, Survey and Urban Planning, Engr. Ahmed Moyi Tambuwal, said that provision of affordable shelter is a basic necessity for everyone. He said " We are all aware that, Shelter is a basic necessity to every citizen. Such shelter must be affordable while at the same time meets globally acceptable standards. It is critical to family security, child upbringing and economic growth," Engr. Tambuwal noted also that the absence of shelter renders the society vulnerable to precarious situations and backwardness. While drawing the attention of the participants to the importance of the theme of this year's council, the Permanent Secretary pointed out the importance of collective contribution in tackling the housing challenges in the Country, stating that every contribution no matter how small it might be would be important He disclosed that the Sokoto State government would willingly provide land and other requirements to interested developers in the built industry who might be willing to partner with the state in the provision of housing for the citizens. ...

El - Yakub Resumes Office as Minister of State, Works and Housing The newly appointed Minister of state for Works and Housing, Honourable Umar Ibrahim El - Yakub has resumed office this afternoon, Wednesday 13th July, 2022. During the handing over and taking over ceremony which took place at the conference hall of the Ministry headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja, El - Yakub who expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari pledged to work assiduously with the Honourable Minister Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola to ensure the sustainability and consolidation of the programmes and projects of the Federal Government by keying into the existing mandate of the Ministry and following in the footsteps of his immediate predecessor Mua'zu Jaji Sambo. He said, "I will work in line with the existing mandate of the Ministry to ensure that there is sustainability and consolidation of the programmes and projects of government, I will ensure that I contribute my best to the success of the Ministry and the country as a whole". The Minister extolled the importance of Infrastructure to the development of any nation. He said infrastructure brings people out of poverty, open the space for business by easing the movement of goods and services thereby improving the economy and living standards of the people. He praised the Federal government for the tremendous road and housing projects across the country noting that some of them were initiated and abandoned by previous administrations. In his remarks the immediate past Minister of state for Works and Housing, Mr. Mua'zu Jaji Sambo described the Federal Ministry Works and Housing as very critical to the development of the country because of the role it plays in the development of road and housing infrastructure which are central to development of other sectors such as mining, agriculture, petroleum, health and general wellbeing of the people. He praised the Buhari administration for the outstanding achievement it had recorded in Infrastructural development. He expressed profound gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for giving the opportunity to work with the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN whom he described as an exemplary leader from whose exceptional knowledge and depth of experience he had benefited. Engineer Sambo who described the new Minister of state as a good friend who is simple, straight forward and unassuming, assured him of a healthy working relationship with Mr. Fashola, the Permanent Secretary and Directors of the Ministry. He expressed appreciation to the Directors and staff of the Ministry for the cooperation and support given to him while working with them and wished the Minister success as he assumes office. In his opening address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali described the occasion as one of mixed reactions because though the incoming Minister had been a friend of many decades, the support, guidance and advice of the outgoing Minister would be greatly missed.  He wished Engineer Sambo success in his new office as the Honourable Minister of Transportation. The Permanent Secretary pledged his support and that of the Directors to the new Minister of State. " You have some of the best professionals that will work with you to achieve the mandate of Mr. President", he added. The Director Human Resource Management of the Ministry, Aliyu Abdullahi who gave the vote of thanks, thanked Almighty God for the opportunity to work with the former Minister of State and the appointment of the new one. He said, " We in the Ministry are fortunate to have worked with the outgoing Minister had lucky for the coming of the Minister of State, we pray God to guide them." Before his appointment as the Honourable Minister of state for Works and Housing, Honourable Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub was the Senior Special Assistant to Mr. President on National Assembly Matters, and was a Member of the National Assembly. ...

NHP:  FG Hands Over Housing Keys to Beneficiaries in Osun State ......Lists Out Requirements To Qualify To Access The Houses  ......Engineer  Akinkumi Akinola and Mr. Adelani Oladosu  Shuaibu Receive Keys To Their Apartments  Federal government today, June 29, 2022 handed over housing keys to beneficiaries who have completed payment  for their houses  under the  first phase (phase I) of the National Housing Scheme at Abere, AIG Zone 11, Oshogbo, Osun State. Speaking before handing over the keys to  the beneficiaries the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr.Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, represented by the Osun State Controller of Housing,TPL. Nureen Salako Abioye said, "ln Osun State today we have four Nigerians who have fully paid for the houses of their choice within the estate comprising 76 -units  of one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedrooms." Fashola disclosed that the  beneficiaries had declared interest in buying the houses of their choice under the National Housing Programme( NHP) when their sale began  and had successfully  subscribed  through the website of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on https://nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng/ and had also completed payment. The Minister  noted that the essence of opening the portal was to ensure that interested Nigerians could access the houses without being impeded. " We have therefore offered all these housing units to members of the general public in a non- discriminatory way by opening the portal to ensure that those interested are not inhibited by any artificial obstacle and allocation will be made on the basis of  those who apply and pay on first come , first serve basis,"  Fashola explained. On the issue of payment,  Fashola said, "We have offered flexible payment options like Mortgages and  Rent-to-Own  which we encourage applicants to pursue, adding that anyone who could make an outright payment could indicate interest but that wouldn't be a condition for eligibility for accessibility to those houses."   Fashola , while calling on Nigerians to own a house among the completed houses across the 35 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital  Territory,   listed the requirements interested buyers need to upload on the ministry's portal to include; i. Current Passport Photograph in JPEG and PNG format, ii. Most recent copy of your tax clearance/payslip in PDF format, iii. Means of identification (National ID, Driver's  license, International Passport) in digital JPEG format; iv. Letter of recommendation from any Primary Mortgage ( for mortgage subscribers); v. Evidence of 10% initial payment deposit ( for mortgage subscribers only). While encouraging Osun state citizens and Nigerians at large to leverage on units of houses yet to be sold, the Minister said,  "The advantage of owning a house in our NHP Estates includes the well - spaced sizes such as: one bedroom unit is about 60-70 sq.meters, two - bedroom  units 76- 103sq. meters and three -bedroom units 110 - 137 sq.  meters, adding that such generous spaces couldn't be compared with what is obtainable in the common market." Earlier in his address, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing,  Mr. Bashir Nura Alkali, represented by the  Chief Town Planner, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, TPL Danbaba Yahaya Haruna,  revealed that  "The philosophy behind the National Housing Programme is the provision of pilot scheme that is affordable, accessible and acceptable as contained in the National Housing Policy."  According to the Permanent Secretary,  the cultural and climatic peculiarities of the  regions within the countries  were  majorly considered before embarking on the projects. "The approach to design and use of materials takes cognizance of the cultural and climatic peculiarities of regions while responding to the   tenets of the Building Energy and Efficiency Code ( BEEC)  being championed by the Ministry," Alkali added. In line with the vision of  the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in creating job for  Nigerians,  the Permanent Secretary said that under the National Housing Programme over 1,500 building contractors have been engaged since it began in the year  2016 over 15,000 direct jobs and 55,000 indirect jobs have also been created. He added that a total of 6000 housing units is being built by the ministry in 45 sites out of which 2,666 have been completed  in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Timi of Ede, Oba Nurudeen Adesola Lamisa, in a goodwill message, commended the Federal Government for building houses for Nigerians and notably for siting the Estate in Ede town.  Oba Adesola Lamisa noted,  "The aim and objective of having this kind of project  is to boost the economy and social life of the inhabitants.We know that in few months time this place will become  a market," saying everyone in the state will see and feel the impact of this National Housing Programme in the state. One of the beneficiaries, Engineer Akinkunmi Akinola, who was represented  by his brother, Engineer  Abayomi Akinola, while giving the vote of thanks on behalf of the beneficiaries applauded the Federal Government for constructing the housing  estates for its citizens pointing out that  accessing the National Housing Programme  portal  and its method of   payment for his brother's choice of house among many units were easy and straightforward. Engr. Akinola who assured the Federal Government of proper use of the facility also  appealed for an  expansion of the housing programme in the state  to accommodate more members of the public. ...