REMARKS BY THE HONORABLE MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ARC. AHMED MUSA DANGIWA AT THE MEETING WITH MILLARD FULLER FOUNDATION ON THURSDAY, 7 DECEMBER, 2023 IN ABUJA
Protocols
Good afternoon, ladies, and gentlemen.
1. It is my pleasure to welcome the leadership and staff of the Millard Fuller Foundation, an organization that embodies the spirit of progress and compassion in the realm of affordable housing, to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
2. The mission of the Millard Fuller Foundation resonates deeply with the core values of our Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Renewed Hope Vision His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Quality Housing for All Nigerians.
3. Their commitment to providing truly affordable homes for mid-low-income earners through collaborative partnerships is commendable and inspiring.
4. Like Millard Fuller, we also believe that what we do here does not only lead to the construction of houses, but that we are also helping to build lives and empower communities across Nigeria.
5. We also share in the understanding that a home is not just a structure made of bricks and mortar. It is the cornerstone of stability, the sanctuary of safety, and the conduit to essential amenities. It represents a vital asset that can transform lives, create opportunities, and be the foundation upon which dreams are built.
6. Moreover, their programmatic focus on building basic, decent, and affordable homes for low-income earners aligns perfectly with our ministry's goals.
7. Since my assumption of office, I have made it clear that as a Ministry we must build for the 80 percent of Nigerians that fall within the low to medium income segment. They are in fact the majority. And as Nigerians, every one of them deserve to have access to decent and affordable housing. That is why we set up an Affordable Housing Design Committee with an initial focus of building homes that are organic and with price tags as low as N4M. I am particularly saddened that the possibility of this is fading with the high inflationary trends which are having a negative impact on the price of construction materials.
8. But I have not given up on my charge to our Directors and the Committee on exploring all possible areas to lower the price barrier of homeownership for Nigerians.
9. Relatedly, as part of the Renewed Hope Vision for Urban development, the Ministry plans to upgrade a total of 26 slums in the Six (6) regions of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory. This project would ensure the provision of key infrastructure and ancillary services including access roads, water supply, solar streetlight, drainages, sanitation, and waste management services etc., that would improve the living standards of the slum residents in the project sites and the urban poor in general.
10. We also plan to set up a National Social Housing Fund (NHSF) to ensure that all Nigerians including the NO INCOME, vulnerable and underprivileged groups have access to decent and dignified accommodation.
11. We also plan to boost building materials manufacturing in the country towards ensuring economic growth, creating jobs, reducing dependency on imports, and lowering the cost of construction materials and housing delivery.
12. Our plan is to build six (1) Building Materials Hubs in each geo-political zone in the country. The hubs will be provided with relevant facilities, including access roads, electricity, fit for purpose housing and relevant linkages for manufacturers to site their firms and operate.
13. These are some of our plans that align with the work that Millard Fuller Foundation is doing.
14. And I must say that as a private sector initiative, their work serves as a shining example of what can be achieved when compassion, dedication, and innovation converge. Their collaborative approach, engaging with individuals and organizations, showcases the power of unity in tackling complex societal issues.
15. As we move forward in our quest to ensure housing security and inclusivity for all, I consider a partnership with the Millard Fuller Foundation as necessary. We would like to learn from your lessons in designing and delivering decent but low-budget houses, and how you are innovating in the face of high inflationary trends.
16. Once again, I thank Millard Fuller Foundation for the visit and look forward to further collaboration.
17. Thank you.
