2019 URBAN OCTOBER: FG Calls for Collective Resolve for Sustainable Urban Development

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has called for a collective reflection, stocktaking and strengthening partnerships, to accelerate action in the pursuit for sustainable urban development in Nigeria.

Fashola made the call in his keynote address at the commemoration of the 2019 World Habitat Day and World Cities Day yesterday in Abuja.

The 2019 Urban October has the themes:“Frontier technologies as an innovative tool to transform waste to wealth” and “Changing the World: Innovations and a Better Life for Future Generations “

The Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar D.Aliyu, read the keynote address on behalf of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola,SAN, the Minister of Works and Housing.

Fashola said we all have the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and build the type of cities we desire for our good health and well-being, and for that of our future generation.

Fashola disclosed that in partnership with  UN Habitat  the Federal Government had embarked on the review of the National Urban Development Policy as well as implementing urban renewal and slum upgrading programmes in several urban communities  across the country.

With a view to creating smart and sustainable cities across the nation, the minister maintained that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has not relented in its commitment to making sure that Nigerians have a better life by addressing the housing and infrastructure challenges and those posed by unplanned cities which led to increased slums and shanties.

He listed the various programmes already embarked upon by the Government through his ministry, which include: the on-going National Housing Programme, the launch of the National Maintenance Framework for Public Building as well as the review of the Urban Development Policy.

In his welcome address the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mohammed  Bukar, said the celebration of the World Cities Day around the world was to enable us view cities as drivers and incubators of innovations,  industries, technology, entrepreneurship  and creativity in ground breaking ways to achieve lasting impacts on the communities, and to ensure that "No one and no place is left behind as we build the future we want."

In her goodwill message, the Executive Director, UN HABITAT, Mrs. Maimunah Moh Sharif, called on stakeholders to identify ways to overcome challenges confronting urbanisation in a way that everyone’s life could be improved.

She noted that cities are the best place of innovation and creativity, assuring that UN Habitat would be ready to fully support the Federal Government in her bid to create  sustainable urbanization.

The Chairman Senate committee on Housing, Senator Sam Egwu represented by his Vice, Senator Oyelola Isa Ashiru pledged the Committee’s full support towards achieving a sustainable development of our cities.

The highlights of the event were:the Honourable Minister’s inspection of the exhibition stands and presentation of gifts to students of Witty Might Academy, Holy Child Educational Homes and Fine Trust Academy for song rendition, poem and drama presentation at the 2019 Urban October celebrations.

FG To Erring Contractors, Up Your Games Or Face Sanctions

The Zonal Director of the National Housing Programme in the North- West, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Architect Joseph Toluhi, has urged erring contractors handling the on going construction of housing project in Kebbi State to step up their games or face necessary sanctions.

He noted that contractors, who fails to perform diligently on the job will have to give way for others to be engaged, adding that relevant clauses in the contract agreement can be invoke for appropriate sanctions.

This was contained in a statement by the Zonal Director on Wednesday in Biriin Kebbi during the North-West inspection tour to the project site.

Toluhi stated that the federal government is committed to provide decent and affordable housing to its teeming population and reduce the housing deficit in the country, adding that the NHP project is designed for the medium income earners who have the affordable means to acquire these houses across the nation.

The National Housing Programme, Kebbi State consist of 76 housing units of 1bedroom, 2 bedrooms and 3 bedrooms semi-detached bungalows, are being handled by 19 indigenous contractors.

In a similar development, the zonal inspection team led by Toluhi also visited the National Housing Programme site in Sokoto State to have on-the-spot assessment of the on going construction works which has reached 95 per cent completion stage.

“I must say that I am pleased and happy with the level of progress of work on this site because we have a very high level of competition. Most of the building here have been completed”. He noted that out of 20 contractors engaged, 12 of them have already been completed while four are yet to be roofed.

According to him, “this means, we are ready to move into these buildings. The infrastructure such as water supply, road arterial and water supply have reached a very high level of completion”.

The Team Leader in Sokoto State, Mr lliya Kastuda also confirmed that construction work has reached 95 percent completion, adding that there is provision of worship centers, school, market to give necessary comfort and police post to ensure adequate security within the housing estate.

The zonal Director and other officials of the Ministry inspected a similar project in Gusau, Zamfara State, which is put at 65% completion stage. He however expressed disappointment in the poor quality of job done, stressing that government will not tolerate sub-standard jobs from any contractor.

AN ADDRESS BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY, DR. MARCUS O OGUNBIYI ON THE OCCASION OF THE SIGNING OF PERFORMANCE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE PERMANENT SECRETARY AND THE DIRECTORS/HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY ON THURSDAY 4^TH JULY 2024 AT THE MINISTRY’S CONFERENCE ROOM

Protocol.

I am pleased to welcome you to this very important occasion which marks a pivotal moment in institutionalising Performance Management System in the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in line with the Presidential Mandate and directive from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

2.       Performance Management System is one of the key pillars of the ongoing reform in the Federal Civil Service. Today the Performance Contracts will be signed between the Permanent Secretary and Directors and Heads of Departments of the Ministry. This is also in alignment with the national priorities and presidential deliverables. It is also to ensure that this Ministry remains among the leading Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the implementation of the ongoing reforms in the Service. I am happy the signing of performance contracts with our directors is happening today. It is a clear testament to our collective commitment to excellence and efficiency. I must express my pleasure to the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) and members of the Technical Team who have been working back-to-back for several weeks to ensure that this occasion becomes a reality.  This is a demonstration of excellence and I will urge you to remain consistent in this professional posture and dedication to duty.   

3.       Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, this Ministry has been given a mandate to drive Pillar 5 of the Presidential Priorities focusing on “Transportation and Infrastructure as enablers of growth”. This is one of the three components that formed the framework for the development of the Ministerial Performance Management System Plan (MPMS) through which the departmental Performance Contracts were developed. Other components are the Operational Priorities of the Ministry which are derived from the National Development Plan; and, the Service-wide Priorities that comprised critical pillars and initiatives from the Federal Civil Service Strategies and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP25). 

4.       Through several ambitious projects across the country, we are not just building houses; we are laying the foundations for sustainable communities, fostering social cohesion, and stimulating economic activity. These initiatives are not mere constructions from bricks and mortar; they represent a commitment to improving the quality of life for every Nigerian, ensuring access to affordable housing and essential amenities. These critical activities/projects have developed into Key Performance Indicators, Targets and Milestones which will now form the basis of your appraisal as your presence in the Ministry is to help the Ministry to deliver on its mandates in order to solve problems in the housing sector in Nigeria. Your performance translates into the Ministry’s performance. If you perform well, the Ministry will perform well. If you contribute your quota based on the weights attributed to your departments excellently well, you are boosting the Ministry’s chances to do well and serve Nigerians better. You and your departments should not be the reason why the Ministry will score low and fail to deliver on critical projects meant to address critical issues that can enable growth of other sectors of the economy. We are an important Ministry in the current dispensation. What you do in your departments are sources of enablers for growth of the country.  

5.       I wish to reiterate that today’s signing of performance contracts with you underscores our collective determination to deliver results that align with the aspirations of our people. Each director here plays a pivotal role in driving forward the reform agenda of the Federal Civil Service and priorities of government. Your dedication are crucial in ensuring the successful implementation of the targets and milestones in your contracts, and I shall be ready to provide necessary support you may need in my role as the Permanent Secretary.

6.       These performance contracts are more than administrative formalities; they are blueprints for action. They outline specific objectives, timelines, and measurable outcomes that will guide our efforts in the coming months. By holding ourselves accountable, we demonstrate our commitment to transparency and effectiveness in governance.

7.       As we embark on this journey, let us harness the transformative power of infrastructure to create sustainable growth and prosperity across our nation. Together, we can build a civil service that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of our citizens.

8.       In closing, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to each of you for your unwavering commitment to this exercise. We sign these performance contracts with a renewed sense of purpose and optimism, knowing that by working together, we can build a brighter future for Nigeria. I will expect you to immediately commence the process of cascading signing of performance contracts with subordinates and ensure that it is done within the next two weeks.

Thank you.

Remarks By The Hon. Minister Of Housing And Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, At The Ground-Breaking Of The 250-Housing Unit Renewed Hope Estate In Osun On Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Protocols

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First, I would like to thank His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Sen. Ademola Adeleke for honoring our invitation to the groundbreaking of a 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estate here in the State’s capital. 

Today’s ceremony is a continuation of the nationwide groundbreaking exercise for housing projects under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, which His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, launched in February with the commissioning of a 3,112-housing unit in Karsana, Abuja.

Under Phase One of this programme, we plan to deliver a total of 50,000 housing units across Nigeria. This includes 7 Renewed Hope Cities that will have between 500 and 1,000 housing units per site in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country and the FCT, while the Renewed Hope Estates will have 250 units per site in the remaining thirty (30) states.

With this housing programme, we plan to unlock the massive potential of housing development to create jobs, uplift lives, and boost economic development. This is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President to STIMULATE INCLUSIVE GROWTH, LIFT 100 MILLION NIGERIANS OUT OF POVERTY, AND BUILD A $1 TRILLION ECONOMY.

As you may recall, last month, following the presidential launch of the programme in Abuja, we embarked on the first leg of this exercise with the groundbreaking of 1,500 housing units in the northern part of Nigeria. This includes 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estates, one each in Katsina, Yobe, Gombe, and Sokoto, and a 500-housing unit Renewed Hope City in Kano. Work is currently ongoing at each of these sites, and our plan is to have all of them completed within the next couple of months and made available to Nigerians in line with Mr. President’s desire to provide quality housing for all Nigerians. UNDER THE RENEWED HOPE AGENDA, WE ARE IMPLEMENTING A ZERO TOLERANCE FOR UNCOMPLETED PROJECTS.
This second leg will see us break ground for a total of 2,000 Renewed Hope Housing Units across eight (8) states in the South and North Central. We started last week Wednesday with 250 units in Ebonyi; Thursday we were in Abia for another 250 units, Friday we were in Akwa Ibom for another 250 units, Saturday we were in Delta State for another 250 units, and today we are happy to be here in Osun to flag off another 250 units. The next stop from here will be Benue, then Nasarawa after which we shall be in Oyo to complete this 2nd leg. 

This estate comprises 50 units of 1-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, 150 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, and 50 units of 3-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.

We have designed these housing units in a way that makes them affordable for people to acquire by using organic designs to allow for future expansion as the income of beneficiaries increases. This means that a 1-bedroom unit can be expanded to 2 bedrooms, and a 2-bedroom unit can also be expanded to 3 bedrooms as the owner’s financial situation improves or their family grows.

As we perform this groundbreaking, I want to charge the contractors

1. Messrs. Muluda Nigeria Limited
2. Messrs. Ful Fledged Consult Nigeria Limited 

to ensure that they build according to specifications. I want to emphasize in very strong terms that we will not tolerate substandard work from any developer, and we will explore all necessary legal means, to ensure that they deliver as per the contract. IF YOU COLLECT GOVERNMENT MONEY, YOU MUST DO THE WORK.

We also want the developers to adhere to the timeline and finish within three months so that we can begin the process of getting Osun indigenes to purchase and move in.

To ensure affordability, we have created different options to enable everyone who has a source of income and livelihood to own these homes when they are completed. These include single-digit mortgage loans that beneficiaries can repay over 30 years, rent-to-own schemes provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and outright purchase options for those who can afford to pay upfront.

Statistics show that the construction of one housing unit creates an average of 25 direct and indirect jobs. So, for these 250 housing units in Osun, we hope to create jobs for over 6,500 people in various trades, from professionals like architects, civil engineers, and mechanical engineers to masons, plumbers, tilers, electricians, and laborers. We have seen unskilled workers at other project sites earning as much as N35,000 per week, at an average of N5,000 per day. This amounts to about N140,000 per month.

This is in addition to the economic activities, including those selling food, supplying blocks, and providing building materials. The value chain effect of construction work on this site is significant and creates a positive economic impact.
I want to state that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development are very particular about giving Nigerians value for money. We are diligently funding these projects from the N50 billion 2023 Supplementary Budget that Mr. President approved for the Ministry to ensure sustainability, quality, and geographic spread.

It is important to say that the provision of land in a good location and at no cost is a key condition for siting Renewed Hope Housing Projects. The twelve states covered under this 2023 supplementary budget are those that first provided land. I want to assure that states that have not been covered will be included in the Ministry’s 2024 Budget on a first-come, first-served basis, on the condition that they provide land at no cost to enhance affordability.

At this juncture, I want to appreciate and thank His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Osun State, His Excellency Sen. Ademola Adeleke for promptly granting our request for the provision of land at no cost. This singular action has helped us to reduce as much as 30% of the cost of the units in this Estate for the benefit of potential homeowners. This is a dividend of responsible governance and I applaud Your Excellency for this. 

Before I close my remarks, I want to thank and appreciate our President for providing the vision and the political will necessary for us to make a difference in terms of delivering decent and quality housing to Nigerians. The Groundbreaking ceremonies for these projects demonstrate that Mr. President and indeed the federal government of Nigeria is committed to fulfilling promises and responsibilities to all Nigerians.

Long live Osun and His Excellency, the Executive Governor.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Long live Mr. President.