Introductory Remarks By The Director, Planning, Research And Statistics Federal Ministry Of Works And Housing, Mr. Jide Ode – Martins At The Technical Session Of The 11th Meeting Of The National Council On Lands, Housing And Urban Development, Held At Dankani Guest Palace Hotels Ltd., Sokoto, Sokoto State, On Monday, 25th July, 2022
Protocol,
I am highly delighted to warmly welcome you to the 11th Meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development holding in Sokoto, Sokoto State with the theme “Housing Our People, By All of Government and All Our People”.
2. As you are aware, the theme of this year’s National Council Meeting was clearly chosen in a bid to further address the housing needs of Nigerians, considering our collective resolve to address the challenges in the Housing Sector for the overall development of the Country within available resources. The theme of the Meeting presupposes that the Federal Government alone cannot address the gap in housing development across the country which brings to focus the fact that the State Governments and Private Sector as critical stakeholders, 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.
3. It is appropriate to highlight that the Council Meeting is preceded by a 2-Day Technical Meeting of the Directors, Heads of Agencies and Professional Bodies in the built environment and the Meeting of the Permanent Secretaries on the 3rd Day, being 27th July, 2022. The responsibility of the Technical Meeting of the Directors as you are aware is to create a solid and resourceful foundation by diligently reviewing the Memoranda submitted by stakeholders and fine-tuning the recommendations to the Meeting of the Permanent Secretaries for consideration and presentation to the main Council at its Meeting on Thursday, 28th July, 2022.
4. Dear esteemed delegates and officials, the timing of this meeting, therefore, is very significant as it affords us the opportunity to think through and make necessary provisions in our various institutions towards adequate housing infrastructure delivery by the governments at all levels and the private sector stakeholders to ensure that affordable houses are delivered to Nigerians.
5. On a concluding note, I wish to express our profound gratitude to the Governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR (Mutawallen Sokoto) for the support of the Sokoto State Government, the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub, Hon. Minister of State for Works and Housing and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Bashir Nura Alkali, FCA, FCTI, for providing the enabling environment for the success of this Meeting. I also appreciate the support of all the Directors, the Sokoto State Local Organising Committee and entire staff of the Ministry whose efforts have made this meeting a reality with positive assurance of its resounding success at the close of the event.
6. On this note, I once again welcome you all and wish you fruitful deliberations.
7. Thanks and God bless you.
