Dangiwa underscores need for infrastructure to improve living conditions

Ahmed Dangiwa, minister of housing and urban development, has said that there is need to provide essential infrastructure such as water supply, drainage systems, roads, sanitation, and street lighting in order to improve living conditions.

He stressed that the federal government is committed to improving living conditions and has, therefore, completed over 100 slum upgrade and urban renewal projects across Nigeria in the past two years.

The minister who spoke at a meeting with Uba Ahmadu, Minister of State for Regional Development, reaffirmed the ministry’s dedication to tackling urban decay and expanding access to affordable housing for Nigerians.

He highlighted the importance of collaboration, noting that by exchanging ideas and pooling resources, both ministries could significantly improve their outputs.

He noted the Housing Ministry’s ongoing efforts to provide affordable housing with projects such as the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates which aim to deliver thousands of homes across the country.

“With this type of collaboration, we can exchange ideas and leverage on certain privileges that one has, and find a way of enhancing our ministerial deliverables that we have sworn to uphold,” Dangiwa stated.

He commended the Regional Development Ministry’s initiative in constructing over 1,000 housing units and expressed optimism that the Housing Ministry’s professionals could support such projects through designs, cost estimates, and technical guidance.

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Dangiwa also provided updates on key housing projects, revealing that under the Renewed Hope Cities initiative, “Abuja has already witnessed a groundbreaking ceremony for 3,112 houses, with additional projects in Lagos (2,000 houses) and Kano (2,000 houses).”

Similarly, the Renewed Hope Estates will see 250 housing units developed in each of the 30 remaining states, ensuring broader national coverage.

“Additionally, the National Social Housing Programme is set to deliver at least 100 housing units per Local Government Area, targeting low-income earners, vulnerable groups, and underprivileged Nigerians”, he added.

Dangiwa emphasized the employment potential of these projects, stating that with over 10,112 housing units under construction, an estimated 250,000 jobs could be created.

On his part, Maigari reaffirmed the commitment of his ministry to grassroots development.

He explained that the newly established Ministry of Regional Development, created by President Bola Tinubu, oversees development commissions tasked with driving economic and infrastructure growth at the local level.

Maigari acknowledged that housing was a crucial component of regional development and emphasized the need to collaborate with the Housing Ministry to prevent duplication of efforts.

He cited the 1,000-unit housing project in Mafa, Borno State, as an example of an initiative that could benefit from a partnership between both ministries.

“Our goal is to undertake urban renewal, develop infrastructure in selected cities, and introduce smart housing solutions, while also exploring suitable financing models,” Maigari stated.

In his remarks, Shuaib Belgore, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, expressed confidence that the collaboration would yield positive results for Nigerians, ensuring that government initiatives in housing and regional development align for maximum impact.