Babatunde Raji Fashola, the Minister of Works and Housing, said the federal government is in partnership with UN-Habitat in reviewing the national urban development policy of the government to address concerns of growing slums in major cities across the country.
This move, the Minister said, was in line with the Federal Government’s determination to address concerns of unplanned cities which lead to the emergence of slums
Fashola made the call in his keynote address at the commemoration of the 2019 World Habitat Day and World Cities Day in Abuja, a statement issued by the Ministry on Friday said.
The Minister said the review would involve implementing urban renewal and slum upgrading programmes in several urban communities across the country.
Fashola in the statement called for a collective reflection, stock taking and strengthening partnerships, to accelerate action in the pursuit of sustainable urban development in Nigeria.
He listed the various programmes already embarked upon by the government through his ministry, which include: the on-going National Housing Programme, the launch of the National Maintenance Framework for Public Building, as well as the review of the Urban Development Policy.
In his welcome address the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mohammed Bukar, said the celebration of the World Cities Day around the globe was to enable people view cities as drivers and incubators of innovations, industries, technology, entrepreneurship and creativity in ground-breaking ways to achieve lasting impacts on the communities, and to ensure that “No one and no place is left behind as we build the future we want.”
In her goodwill message, the Executive Director, UN-HABITAT, Maimunah Moh Sharif, called on stakeholders to identify ways to overcome challenges confronting urbanisation in a way that everyone’s life could be improved.
She noted that cities are the best place of innovation and creativity, assuring that UN-Habitat would be ready to fully support the Federal Government in her bid to create sustainable urbanization.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Sam Egwu, represented by his Vice, Senator Oyelola Isa Ashiru, pledged the Committee’s full support towards achieving sustainable development of our cities.
The highlights of the event were: the Minister’s inspection of the exhibition stands and presentation of gifts to students of Witty Might Academy, Holy Child Educational Homes and Fine Trust Academy for song rendition, poem and drama presentation at the 2019 Urban October celebrations.
