Abuja, Sept. 12, 2023 – Ahmed Dangiwa, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, on Tuesday said the current administration placed priority on housing development.
The minister said this while playing host to the President and members of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) who paid him a courtesy call in his office.
He said his ministry was in the process of producing an actionable plan that would drive the process of actualising the goals of the administration.
“When it comes to housing, we are here to solve a lot of problems together which include the challenges of rapid urbanization, housing production, mitigating housing deficits in the country, enforcement of housing quality and standards, and informal settlements.
“In addressing these challenges, NIOB is a professional body and in the best position to work with the ministry of housing to proffer solutions to the challenges.
“We are in the process of producing an actionable plan that will drive the process of actualising these goals of the administration.
“Housing Reform is a major aspect of the process.
“President Bola Tinubu has mandated the ministry to form a committee that will ensure that the entire housing sector is reformed so that it will function effectively.
“Another assignment is reforming the land use reform. This issue is long overdue. The ministry has started discussing who the members should be.
“Interestingly, the NIOB featured prominently in all of these set goals. So, you will be included in the committee as one of the drivers that will ensure the success of the reform.
“The federal government will have to strengthen the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
“We intend to reinforce it and ensure that it is re-capitalised so that it can function effectively to deliver its mandate of providing affordable mortgages for Nigerians.
“This is another area that I assure you that the government will collaborate with the NIOB.
“On the issue of the National Building Code, the Code has already been done but we are making a few amendments to it.
“What we want professional bodies like yours to do is identify the issues that ought to be adjusted in the Building Code for effective utilization.
“We will be ready to accept your professional suggestions,” he said.
Alderton Ewa, the President of NIOB, called for the assistance of the minister in enacting a national building code in the country.
He said the absence of the code was one of the major challenges affecting building construction in the country that leads to so many building collapses.
Ewa urged the minister to mobilise all professional bodies under the built environment to come together for effective formulation of policies and coordination of efforts.
He also advised the Minister to encourage the mortgage bank to give loans to real estate developers at reasonable interest rates. (GBN)
