DANGIWA SEEKS INCREASED UN-HABITAT SUPPORT FOR NIGERIA’S NATIONAL URBAN RENEWAL AND SLUM UPGRADE PROGRAMME

•    Announces Plans for Nigeria’s First National Urban Forum Mid 2025

Nairobi, Kenya – December 5, 2024: In a bid to strengthen Nigeria’s efforts in addressing urban development challenges, the Hon. Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has called for increased support and collaboration from UN-Habitat.

Speaking during a working lunch with the new Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Ms. Anaclaudia Rossbach, on the sidelines of the 2nd Session of the 2024 UN-Habitat Executive Board Meeting in Nairobi, the Minister emphasized the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s housing and urban challenges.

Arc. Dangiwa underscored the critical state of housing in Nigeria, noting that over 75% of the country’s 42 million housing units are substandard, with nearly half of the population living in informal settlements. To address these challenges, he highlighted the Federal Government’s National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade Programme (NURSUP), which has completed projects at 54 sites nationwide, with 56 additional projects underway. These efforts aim to improve essential infrastructure such as water supply, solar-powered streetlights, access roads, drainage systems, and waste management solutions.

The Minister stressed the importance of robust partnerships with international organizations like UN-Habitat to scale up these initiatives. “Our collaboration with UN-Habitat is critical. With your support, we aim to expand and enhance Nigeria’s National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade Programme to deliver transformative outcomes for our people,” he stated.

As part of Nigeria’s commitment to the global urban agenda, Arc. Dangiwa announced plans to host the country’s first National Urban Forum in June or July 2025. The forum will bring together stakeholders—including government representatives, urban planners, developers, civil society organizations, and development partners—to discuss Nigeria’s urban development strategies and align them with the New Urban Agenda (NUA).

The NUA, adopted at the Habitat III Conference in 2016, is a global framework guiding urbanization toward sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience. It emphasizes equitable access to housing, infrastructure, and services while advocating for compact, well-connected urban areas to reduce sprawl and enhance mobility. The NUA prioritizes climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and participatory urban governance, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 11. Its principles are central to Nigeria's efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda, driving sustainable housing and urban renewal.

Arc. Dangiwa also highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in urban transformation, noting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of $500,000 to support UN-Habitat.

“Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda aligns with the global urban agenda, and we are committed to driving meaningful change through partnerships with organizations like UN-Habitat,” said the Minister. He expressed optimism about finalizing a comprehensive partnership framework within six months, with plans to sign the agreement during the National Urban Forum.

In her remarks, Ms. Rossbach praised Nigeria’s leadership role in urbanization and the Federal Government’s contributions to UN-Habitat initiatives, including $3 million toward the African Urban Agenda Programme (2013–2016). She affirmed that Nigeria remains a top priority for the agency and acknowledged the government’s active participation in global urbanization dialogues, such as WUF12 in Cairo and the inaugural Africa Urban Forum.

Ms. Rossbach also highlighted UN-Habitat’s ongoing efforts to align its work plan with Nigeria’s strategic priorities, including a national urban renewal strategy and improved land administration systems. She assured the Minister of UN-Habitat’s commitment to strengthening its operations in Nigeria and maximizing the impact of the government’s $500,000 contribution.
Additionally, she announced that UN-Habitat is negotiating a €10 million grant with the European Union for urban integration projects in Northern Nigeria, alongside other partnerships with the World Bank and Ekiti State for urban planning and investment. She proposed a high-level visit to Nigeria in 2025 to coincide with the launch of a large-scale urban intervention programme.

“UN-Habitat assures the Honourable Minister that, in partnership with the UN Country Team, the agency is committed to supporting Nigeria in addressing its developmental and urbanization challenges sustainably. This aligns with the SDGs by facilitating better access to inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements,” she said.

Arc. Dangiwa’s efforts reflect Nigeria’s dedication to leveraging its partnership with UN-Habitat to drive transformative outcomes. “Nigeria is committed to advancing sustainable urbanization and improving the lives of our citizens through robust initiatives and strategic collaborations,” said the Minister.