REMARKS BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY, DR. SHUAIB M.L. BELGORE, NPOM, OON, DELIVERED AT THE 14TH MEETING OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON LANDS, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, HOLDING AT THE KWARA INNOVATION HUB, AHMADU BELLO WAY, G.R.A, ILORIN, KWARA STATE, FROM MONDAY, 19TH TO FRIDAY, 23TH JANUARY, 2026
PROTOCOLS
It is with great pleasure that I deliver these remarks at the Fourteenth (14th) Meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development. This auspicious gathering brings together key stakeholders, policymakers, professionals, and experts within the built environment to deliberate on issues that are fundamental to housing delivery and sustainable urban development in Nigeria.
2. 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 particularly timely and strategic. It underscores the urgent need for innovative, practical, and holistic approaches to addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit while promoting sustainable, resilient, and inclusive cities.
3. The importance of housing cannot be overemphasised. The United Nations recognises housing as the second most basic need of mankind, and its centrality to human dignity, social stability, and economic development is universally acknowledged. In recognition of this, the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development—previously subsumed under the Federal Ministry of Works—was a deliberate and strategic intervention aimed at repositioning the sector for greater impact.
4. Furthermore, the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, places strong emphasis on revitalising all sectors of the economy to achieve sustained and inclusive growth. As government representatives and stakeholders in the built environment, it is incumbent upon us to align our policies, programmes, and actions with this national vision if we are truly committed to building a prosperous and resilient nation.
5. Under the visionary leadership of the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, the Ministry has initiated several flagship reforms that have placed the housing and urban development sector on a progressive trajectory. These initiatives—many of which are captured in the theme of this Council—form the backbone of the Federal Government’s strategy to scale up housing delivery and improve urban livability across the Federation.
6. Distinguished delegates, effective land management, urban renewal, promotion of local building materials, and Public–Private Partnerships have proven to be critical catalysts for sustainable housing delivery. Land, which remains the principal resource in the sector, only becomes a true asset when it is properly titled, registered, digitised, and verifiable. Secure land documentation enhances access to finance, stimulates investment, and unlocks wealth creation.
7. Urban renewal, through the regeneration and modernisation of ageing urban centres, improves livability, optimises land use, and promotes sustainable human settlements. In addition, the growing demands on public resources have made Public–Private Partnerships indispensable in complementing government efforts to scale up housing and infrastructure delivery. The Ministry is also intensifying efforts to deepen industrial capacity through the establishment of local building materials manufacturing hubs, aimed at reducing construction costs, shortening delivery timelines, and creating employment opportunities.
8. Housing, as a vital sector of the economy, transcends the provision of shelter. It encompasses access to safe, secure, habitable, and affordable homes, and remains a critical driver of a productive and stable society. Sound physical planning, efficient land allocation and utilisation, and effective policy formulation and implementation are therefore fundamental to sustainable housing development. The real estate and construction sectors contribute significantly to economic growth through employment generation, investment mobilisation, savings, and improved labour productivity. Moreover, the availability of decent housing directly influences public health, social well-being, and environmental sustainability.
9. Nigeria’s rapid population growth and accelerated urbanisation have resulted in a significant housing deficit, which is further compounded by challenges such as limited access to land, inadequate mortgage financing, high costs of building materials, insufficient infrastructure, weak land documentation systems, and shortages of skilled artisans and craftsmen. In response to these challenges, the Ministry is working assiduously to coordinate and harmonise policies, procedures, and institutional frameworks through sustained collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders.
10. Distinguished participants, achieving sustainable housing delivery and functional cities begins with sound policy formulation, rigorous sectoral reviews, and the implementation of actionable strategies. The National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development remains one of the foremost statutory platforms for generating such critical policy recommendations. The resolutions emerging from the technical deliberations of Directors, refined at the level of Permanent Secretaries, and ultimately considered by this Council, will shape the future direction of housing and urban development in Nigeria and contribute meaningfully to national economic growth.
11. I wish to assure this distinguished gathering that the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, under the leadership of the Honourable Minister, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, will continue to provide the necessary policy direction, institutional leadership, and coordination required to achieve our shared objectives in the built environment. I urge all stakeholders to demonstrate similar commitment within their respective jurisdictions and spheres of influence.
12. As we engage with the memoranda presented, I encourage frank, constructive, and solution-oriented deliberations, with a view to adopting policies and strategies that will ensure sustainable, affordable, and inclusive housing delivery at both national and sub-national levels.
13. As we deliberate in the best interest of our dear country, I wish us fruitful discussions and impactful outcomes.
Thank you for your attention, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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