RAMADAN MESSAGE FROM THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

As the holy month of Ramadan begins, I extend warm greetings and heartfelt best wishes to Muslim faithful across Nigeria and around the world.

Ramadan is a sacred period of reflection, sacrifice, compassion, and renewed devotion to Almighty Allah. It is a time that reminds us of the values of patience, humility, generosity, and service to humanity — virtues that are essential for building a peaceful, just, and prosperous nation.

This blessed month also calls us to strengthen unity, deepen mutual understanding, and extend support to the less privileged in our communities. In the spirit of Ramadan, I encourage all Nigerians to promote peace, tolerance, and solidarity as we work together to build a stronger and more inclusive country.

At the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, we remain committed to advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by expanding access to decent and affordable housing, improving urban infrastructure, and creating sustainable communities that enhance the quality of life for all citizens.

May this holy month bring spiritual renewal, divine blessings, and abundant peace to our nation.

Ramadan Kareem.

Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, FNIA, FCIB
Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development
Federal Republic of Nigeria

A Tribute to Arc Dangiwa on his 63rd Birthday.

By Adamu Aminu. 

The day I first set my eyes on the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, was in November 2024, when we attended the 13th event of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, held in Gombe. 

We went there as part of the entourage of my Principal, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata. 

That day, I started getting acquainted with his official personality as a Minister of the honourable Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, where he delivered a keynote address during the 4-day event, branded with the theme: "Housing the Future; Affordable Housing For Economic Growth, Climate Resilience and Urban Development."

What I really observed in Minister Dangiwa during the event was a man going about his duties with administrative confidence in his actions and movements. 

His facial demeanour wore a half-smile and partly seriousness, with telepathic flashes of understanding conveyed through subtle cues and movements. 

During the presentation of the report and deliberations, I first understood that the Hon. Minister Dangiwa's cherry-picking responses, observations, and recommendations were really intriguing to me. 

He speaks with expertise, professionally, volubly, and with convincing fluidity – that's expected from any man of his calibre while communicating with his listening audience.

During the February 2025 Sector Retreat in Lagos, my expectations of the Hon. Minister, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, were exceeded as he presented his keynote address at the Lagos event with the theme: "Actualising the Renewed Hope Agenda For Housing and Urban Development: Examining Strategies, Identifying Opportunities to Boost Scale and Impact." 

I was impressed by how his professional and naturally-driven confidence prompted a surreal imagination in me to be in his shoes in my future endeavours.

Likewise, in November last year, a Conference of Directors of Lands event was held in Kano, and also at the recent 14th National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, held in Ilorin, Kwara State, I became a keen observer and a distant learner of Minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa's mode of voluble presentation, seeking to emulate and internalise his naturally-driven mode of public speaking. 

As a result, I have become verbally accustomed to the word "deliverables," which the Hon. Dangiwa often uses when commenting on actualising the Housing Scheme's of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.

As a wise saying goes, "God's actions are embedded with concealed rationale." I later realised that the appointment of my Principal, the Minister of State, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, leading to my appointment as his Special Assistant on Media, was a divine rationality for me to be in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, to meet fresh faces that would give me a new lease of life, in terms of intellectual-driven purposes, and to make acquaintance with new faces.

Unarguably, Minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa is known as a man of principles, but despite that, he exhibits the trait of simplicity, according everyone he meets human respect. 

That's why I feel elated whenever I greet him; he always responds to me smilingly and says, "Adamu S.A., barka da aiki." 

This is synonymous with a proverb which says, "The company of good people is like walking through a garden of roses; you may not notice it at first, but you'll always come out smelling sweet."

Sir, in a nutshell, I pray and hope that God Almighty gives you, and the Minister of State, Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, the strength and capability to deliver on your promises on this assignment, bound for generational impact under the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. 

I once again wish you a happy birthday, Sir, wishing you more fruitful years ahead and positive deliverables in an upward trajectory in your future endeavours.

ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AT THE 14TH MEETING OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON LANDS, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ILORIN, KWARA STATE

Theme:    Achieving Housing Delivery and Sustainable Cities through Effective Land Management, Urban Renewal, Promotion of Local Building Materials, and Public-Private Partnerships in Nigeria

Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Malam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq
Distinguished Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees,
Hon. Minister of State for Housing and Urban, Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Ata
Honourable Commissioners,
Permanent Secretaries,
Directors and Heads of Agencies,
Development Partners,
Professional bodies
Private Sector Leaders,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

1.    It gives me great pleasure to be here in Ilorin for the 14th Meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

2.    Let me begin by warmly thanking His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and the good people of Kwara State for the excellent hosting and the hospitality extended to us.

3.    Before I go into my remarks, let me first appreciate the valuable goodwill messages and presentations we have heard this morning. They have strengthened the discussion and brought fresh, practical perspectives to the theme of this Council.

4.    I thank our Distinguished Members of the National Assembly, Honourable Commissioners, and our development partners for your thoughtful remarks. 

5.    I was particularly encouraged by the presentation on Financing Housing Delivery and Sustainable Cities in Nigeria: The Role of Development Finance and Public-Private Partnerships by Shelter Afrique Development Bank. It reminded us that government budgets, by themselves, cannot deliver housing at the scale Nigeria needs. What we must do—deliberately and consistently—is to mobilise long-term capital through development finance institutions, private investors, and structured PPPs, backed by clear policies, credible institutions, and bankable project pipelines.

6.    I also want to expand on the presentation on the National Homeownership and Housing Development Campaign by KTNN, because it is particularly strategic and timely.

7.    This Campaign reflects our commitment as a Ministry to leading a Unified and Coordinated Approach to Subnational Housing Development, working closely with State Governments so that Federal programmes, reforms, finance opportunities and private capital are translated into real, visible, deliverable projects at the State level.

8.    In this regard, I want to use this platform to call on all stakeholders—Governors, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, housing institutions, developers, financiers, and professionals—to actively support and participate in the Campaign, which will be flagged off in Katsina State from 4th to 5th March, 2026.

9.    Finally, I commend the presentation on Enhancing Housing Adequacy through the National Housing Data Programme. One of the biggest gaps in our sector has been the absence of reliable, centralised, and actionable housing data. Without data, planning becomes guesswork; investment becomes speculative; and tracking progress becomes difficult.

10.    Taken together, these presentations reinforce a simple message: the solutions already exist; what we need now is stronger coordination, deeper commitment, and disciplined implementation.

11.    It is against this background that I will now share my thoughts on the theme of this year’s Council Meeting.

LAND ADMINISTRATION AS THE FOUNDATION

12.    As we all may be aware, No country can solve its housing challenge without fixing its land system. In Nigeria, land remains one of our greatest assets—yet it is also one of our biggest constraints. Lenghty  titling processes, fragmented land records, high transaction costs, and weak planning controls continue to slow down housing delivery and discourage serious investment.

13.    This is why land reform remain central to our agenda through the National Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme (Land4Growth). Our focus is to work with State Governments towards:
 

•    Accelerating land registration, documentation and titling;
•    Supporting States to digitise land records and modernise registries; and
•    Reducing the time and cost of securing legal title.
 

14.    In 2025, we secured strong national stakeholder buy-in through high-level engagements held in Abuja and Lagos. This includes a national stakeholders’ forum and targeted consultations with state governments, professional bodies, and development partners. We further deepened implementation readiness through dedicated World Bank missions to Kaduna, Kano, and Niger States. We also held a the Conference of Directors of Lands, which focused specifically on the Land4Growth’s implementation mission. 

15.    In the area of service delivery, our work continues to translate policy into practical outcomes. Over the past year, the Ministry processed and signed 1,743 Certificates of Occupancy, approved 345 secondary transactions, including mortgages and consents, and concluded 32 valuation approvals across the Federation. 

16.    In summary, secure land titles reduce risk, unlock capital, and empower citizens. I therefore urge all States to treat land reform not as a routine administrative matter, but as a deliberate economic growth strategy that will increase IGR, empower citizens and grow GDP.

URBAN RENEWAL AS A KEY STRATEGY
 

17.    Nigeria is urbanising rapidly—often faster than planning and infrastructure can keep up. This is why urban renewal is not optional.

18.    Our approach to urban renewal focuses on upgrading neighbourhoods, improving infrastructure, regularising tenure where possible, and creating safer, healthier, more productive communities.

19.    Through the National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade Programme, we have already delivered over 240 projects nationwide with over 100 more ongoing at various stages of completion. 
 

PROMOTING LOCAL BUILDING MATERIALS
 

20.    One of the biggest drivers of housing unaffordability in Nigeria today is our heavy dependence on imported building materials and components.

21.    In this regard, the Ministry has also made progress on the Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs. This is a critical intervention aimed at reducing construction costs, deepening local manufacturing, and strengthening housing value chains. We have secured an Outline Business Case (OBC) Compliance Certificate from ICRC for the Lekki Free Trade Zone hub. This represents a a major regulatory milestone. We have also engaged consultants to prepare bidding and concession documents for hubs in the remaining five geo-political zones.

22.    When we build with local materials, we lower costs, stabilise prices, expand employment, and deepen national economic resilience.
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS: FROM POLICY TO PROJECTS
 

23.    In 2025, the Ministry made significant progress across major Renewed Hope City projects in Karsana, Abuja; Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos; and Kano, with several phases reaching commissioning readiness and active house sales already underway. This progress demonstrates our growing capacity to structure, supervise, and de-risk large-scale PPP housing developments, mobilise private capital, and translate government policy into market-ready projects that are delivering real homes for Nigerians.

24.    But PPPs only work when there is clarity, transparency, and timely decision-making. This Council must therefore continue to strengthen trust, capacity, and coordination across all levels of government.
 

FEDERAL COORDINATION AND DELIVERY ARCHITECTURE
 

25.    Your Excellency, Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, as you are aware, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is designated as the Coordinating Ministry for housing, land, and urban development in Nigeria.

26.    In this role, the Ministry provides national leadership by:
 

•    Setting policy direction for housing delivery, urban renewal, and land reform;
•    Coordinating the activities and programmes of Federal Housing Institutions;
•    Aligning housing and urban development initiatives with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government;
•    Leading engagement with Development Finance Institutions and private capital providers; and
•    Establishing clear standards, delivery frameworks, and implementation guidelines to support housing delivery at scale.
 

27.    To support this role, Nigeria operates a defined Federal delivery and financing architecture, comprising:
 

•    The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), providing affordable mortgage products, NHF-linked financing, and rent-to-own schemes all at single digit interest rates and up to 30-years;
•    The Federal Housing Authority (FHA), serving as master developer, PPP structurer, and estate delivery partner;
•    The Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), enabling long-term mortgage refinancing and market liquidity;
•    The MOFI Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF), mobilising concessional capital for housing/mortgage development; and
•    Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL), delivering social and affordable housing targeted at low-income Nigerians.
 

28.    As part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, our Strategic Plan in 2026 is to strengthen coordination across these institutions. 
 

29.    This is to ensure that they operate not in silos, but as One Coherent National Housing Delivery System, working in direct support of State-level implementation.

30.    To translate this coordinated Federal system into tangible outcomes at the subnational level, we have developed a Unified Housing Delivery Framework that enables structured State participation, scale, and impact.

31.    The objective of this Framework is clear:
to ensure that the Ministry and all Federal Housing Institutions operate as One Government, with complementary and clearly defined roles, while providing State and Local Governments with a predictable, credible framework for collaboration on housing delivery.

32.    This is particularly important at a time when many States are experiencing improved fiscal capacity and requiring structured ways to work with the Federal Government to deliver housing at scale. 

33.    Under this Framework, State Governments are to participate as active counterparts across four flagship Federal programmes.

34.    First is the Renewed Hope Housing Programme. Under this Programme, States are encouraged to scale housing delivery beyond the Federal baseline of 250 housing units per site.
Participating States are expected to:
•    Commit land and supporting infrastructure; and
•    Make budgetary provision to deliver at least 1,000 housing units per annum, in complement to Federal delivery.
 

In return, the Federal Government mobilises Federal Housing Institutions to support State Housing delivery, including:
 

•    FMBN and MREIF, to provide single-digit, long-term off-take mortgages and equity support;
•    NMRC, to provide mortgage refinancing and improve affordability; and
•    FHA, to provide technical, project structuring, and delivery support where required.
In addition, the Ministry is ready to work with States that wish to develop Renewed Hope Cities—large-scale, mixed-use urban developments—by leveraging private sector capital through PPPs, supported by appropriate State Guarantees and enabling frameworks.
Under this city-scale model, the Federal Government will mobilise institutions such as Family Homes Funds Limited, NSIA, and InfraCredit to support States in structuring sustainable financing frameworks, crowding in long-term capital, and ensuring that these cities are financially viable, inclusive, and resilient.
 

35.    Second is State-Led Social Housing Programme
The State-Led Social Housing Programme is designed as a structured State counterpart to the National Social Housing Programme, under which the Federal Government is already working to deliver a baseline of 100 housing units in each Local Government Area of the Federation.

Under this Programme, our expectation is clear and practical:
 

State Governments, working in collaboration with Local Governments, are encouraged to commit to the delivery of at least 50 social housing units in each Local Government Area. This would serve as a counterpart contribution to the national effort to expand access to decent and affordable housing for low-income and vulnerable Nigerians.
This approach ensures that social housing delivery is:
 

•    Locally driven, reflecting community needs;
•    Scalable, moving beyond isolated pilot projects; and
•    Deeply impactful, with direct benefits at the grassroots level.
To support State and Local Government participation, the Federal Government will:
•    Mobilise Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) as an enabling agency leveraging its already established links with DFIs;
•    Deploy FMBN products, including NHF-linked/cooperative and rent-to-own financing, to support affordability and off-take; and
•    Facilitate access to concessional DFI financing to reduce costs and ensure long-term sustainability.
 

Through this partnership model, social housing becomes a shared Federal–State–Local Government responsibility, delivering visible impact, supporting poverty reduction, and strengthening social stability.
 

36.    The third component is the State Urban Renewal and Inner-City Regeneration Programme. The State Urban Renewal and Inner-City Regeneration Programme is designed as a structured State counterpart to the National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade Programme, under which the Federal Government is already upgrading deteriorating urban areas and slums nationwide.
Under this Programme:
 

•    States lead land assembly, infrastructure provision, and resettlement where required;
•    FMHUD provides the national framework, standards, and coordination;
•    DFIs provide long-term finance and guarantees; and
•    Private sector partners undertake redevelopment, construction, and asset management.
 

This Programme enables States to transform aging estates and congested inner cities into modern, mixed-use, liveable districts that improve quality of life, increase land and property values, and expand Internally Generated Revenue.
 

37.    Fourth is the State Housing PPP and Investment Platform
This Programme encourages State Governments to establish a State Housing PPP and Investment Platform with the capacity to build  housing investment pipelines per State over time.
 

The platform will be supported by:
•    FMHUD to ensure coordination and investor confidence;
•    DFIs to ensure provision of long-term debt and guarantees

Conclusion

38.    Your Excellency, Distinguished colleagues, this Unified Framework represents a deliberate shift—from fragmented interventions to coordinated national delivery.

39.    The Federal Government provides leadership, institutions, and finance. States provide land and subsidies, execution, and local leadership and counterpart or additional budgetary funding or interventions to complement federal effort.

40.    Together, we all work in partnership with our partners to deliver homes, renew cities, and unlock growth.

41.    Thank you, and I wish us productive deliberations and actionable outcomes.

WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE DIRECTOR, PLANNING, RESEARCH AND STATISTICS AT THE FOURTEENTH (14TH) MEETING OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON LANDS, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, HELD IN ILORIN INNOVATION HUB, AHMADU BELLO, G.R.A, ILORIN, KWARA STATE ON 19TH JANUARY, 2026

Protocols.

It is my singular honour and pleasure to warmly welcome you all to the Fourteenth (14th) Meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, holding here at the Kwara Innovation Hub, Ilorin, Kwara State. I convey the goodwill and best wishes of the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

2.    This Council Meeting represents the highest policy advisory platform in Nigeria’s housing and urban development sector. Its convening underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive dialogue, cooperative federalism, and evidence-based policymaking aimed at addressing the nation’s housing and urban development challenges. I therefore extend a special welcome to Honourable Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, State Surveyors-General, representatives of professional and regulatory bodies, academia, the military and paramilitary organisations, and all other key stakeholders in the built environment.

3.    Distinguished participants, the theme of this year’s Council Meeting—“Achieving Housing Delivery and Sustainable Cities through Effective Land Management, Urban Renewal, Promotion of Local Building Materials, and Public–Private Partnerships in Nigeria” is both timely and strategic. It reflects the urgent need to respond holistically to the pressures of rapid urbanisation, population growth, climate concerns, and the widening housing deficit across the country.

4.    Over the next few days, this Council will engage in a carefully structured programme designed to ensure robust technical engagement, policy coherence, and actionable outcomes. The Meeting formally commenced with the arrival and registration of delegates, followed by the Technical Sessions of Directors, which are taking place over two days. These sessions provide the critical foundation for the Council, as Directors deliberate extensively on sectoral issues, review memoranda, assess implementation progress of previous Council decisions, and refine policy proposals for higher-level consideration.

5.    This will be followed by the Meeting of Permanent Secretaries, where the outcomes of the Directors’ deliberations will be further examined, harmonised, and strengthened from an administrative and inter-governmental coordination perspective. The climax of the programme will be the Council Meeting proper, to be attended by the Honourable Minister and Honourable Commissioners from across the Federation, where key policy decisions, resolutions, and strategic directions for the housing and urban development sector will be collectively adopted.

6.    The thematic focus of this Council has been carefully articulated around eight critical areas, namely: policy formulation and implementation; institutional strengthening; effective land management and administration as a foundation for sustainable housing delivery; national land policy and governance frameworks for inclusive urban growth; promotion of local building materials and technologies; urban renewal and regeneration; public–private partnerships as catalysts for housing and infrastructure delivery; and innovative financing and investment strategies for sustainable housing development. These thematic areas are expected to guide discussions, shape memoranda, and inform the resolutions of the Council.

7.    Distinguished colleagues, it is important to reiterate that the National Council is not merely a forum for discussion but a critical instrument for policy direction and implementation. The success of government policies ultimately lies in effective execution, and this responsibility rests significantly on Directors and senior officials at both federal and state levels. As custodians of policy implementation, your technical input, professional judgment, and institutional leadership are essential in translating Council decisions into programmes and actions that deliver tangible benefits and lasting succour to our citizens.

8.    The requirement for States and stakeholders to submit memoranda aligned with the theme of the Council, as well as status reports on the implementation of decisions reached at the 13th Council Meeting in Gombe, is therefore central to ensuring continuity, accountability, and measurable progress within the sector. These inputs enrich deliberations and enable the Council to take informed decisions grounded in practical realities.

9.    As we engage over the coming days, I encourage all participants to contribute constructively, share experiences and best practices, and propose pragmatic, implementable solutions that align with our institutional mandates and regulatory frameworks. Let our deliberations be guided by a shared commitment to reducing Nigeria’s housing deficit, strengthening land governance, revitalising our cities, and improving the quality of life for all Nigerians.

10.    Once again, I warmly welcome you all to Ilorin and to this important Council Meeting. I wish us fruitful deliberations, meaningful engagements, and successful outcomes.

Thank you for your attention, and I wish you a pleasant stay in Kwara State.