The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has stated that a revolving annual fund of N50 billion is essential to sustain Nigeria’s urban development and slum upgrade initiatives.
Dangiwa made this known during an engagement with the Special Assistant to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Usman, who presented the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit’s (CRDCU) 2024 Performance Assessment Report for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
Highlighting the need for robust urban development interventions, the minister referenced recent assurances from the Executive Director of UN-Habitat at a board meeting in Nairobi. “Every kobo invested in the National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade programme can leverage threefold through institutional partnerships,” Dangiwa said.
The ministry has over 100 projects across the country, with nearly 60 completed. These projects focus on providing basic amenities like access roads, drainage, and potable water in slum areas to enhance livability.
Dangiwa further disclosed that the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programme currently boasts 10,112 housing units under construction at 14 sites nationwide. This includes 3,000 units across 12 estates at 250 units per state, funded by the 2023 ₦50bn supplementary budget, 3,612 units in Karsana Renewed Hope City, 1,500 units in Kano, and 20,000 units in Lagos State.
President Bola Tinubu is set to officiate the groundbreaking ceremonies for two new Renewed Hope Cities in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, and Kano State on December 17 and 19, respectively. These projects will feature 2,500 housing units in Lagos and 1,500 units in Kano, financed by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) in a public-private partnership.
Despite progress, Dangiwa acknowledged challenges such as delayed budget releases and the high cost of building materials. He urged the CRDCU to support efforts in securing early budgetary allocations and fostering partnerships with state governments, the National Economic Council, and other stakeholders.
He also called for a review of the Land Use Act to address housing and urban development bottlenecks. “The housing deficit demands the construction of at least 550,000 units annually over the next 10 years to close the gap,” the minister said.
To tackle the housing crisis, Dangiwa revealed ongoing discussions with the National Assembly, which has shown interest in approving a ₦500bn budget for the ministry in 2025. He called on the CRDCU to help champion this cause, emphasizing the need for increased funding to sustain the Renewed Hope Agenda and meet the nation’s housing demands.
“The ministry has embraced the Public-Private Partnership model to mitigate insufficient budgetary funding,” Dangiwa added, stressing its importance for achieving Nigeria’s housing and urban development goals.
