INSTANT NEWS

On Tuesday, the Federal Government inaugurated four Reform Task Teams with the goal of expediting the realization of presidential objectives for the housing sector in Nigeria. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa, stressed the importance of unlocking the sector's massive potential for fostering inclusive economic growth.

The four committees introduced are the Housing Institutions Reform Task Team, the Multi-Agency Project Delivery Team, the Land Reform Task Team, and the Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs Task Team. Minister Dangiwa challenged these committees to diligently work and present their recommendations within an eight-week timeframe. He emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms addressing systemic issues hindering development and removing legal impediments in the housing sector.

Dangiwa highlighted President Bola Tinubu's commitment to revitalizing the housing sector, citing the demerger from the Ministry of Works and the establishment of the task teams as significant steps toward realizing the Renewed Hope Agenda for the sector.

The Housing Institutions Reform Task Team aims to create a robust framework for optimizing housing agencies under the ministry's supervision, delivering decent and affordable homes to Nigerians. The Multi-Agency Project Delivery Task Team will ensure collaborative efforts among housing agencies for efficient housing delivery. The Land Reform Task Team focuses on developing a blueprint for sustainable land administration reforms, promoting easy and cost-effective land access. The Building Materials Manufacturing Hub Task Team will assess the current state of the building materials manufacturing sector, identifying challenges and opportunities.

Dangiwa assured the committees of the government's support and resources to fulfill their responsibilities within the specified timeline. He urged the Federal Housing Authority to intensify operations with government support and encouraged the Federal Mortgage Bank to provide mortgages, enabling more Nigerians to own homes.

Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, emphasized the necessity of these task teams in addressing multifaceted challenges in effective housing delivery. The chairmen and members of the committees were selected for their proven integrity and competence. The appointed chairmen include Adedeji Adesemoye for the Housing Institutions Reform Task Team, Dr. Ugochukwu Chime for the Land Reform Task Team, Nuhu Wya for the Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs Task Team, and Brig. Gen. Tunde Reis for the Multi-Agency Project Task Team.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa, has announced plans for a mortgage scheme catering to Nigerians residing in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Canada. The launch of this Diaspora Mortgage Housing Scheme is slated for February 2024, as revealed by Dangiwa during a meeting with the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and select Management Staff in Abuja.

In a statement from the Protocol Unit at NiDCOM, Dangiwa emphasized the overarching objective of providing Nigerians abroad with the opportunity to have a decent residence in Nigeria. He expressed the commitment of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to fulfill their tripartite mandate, which includes the development of a Diaspora City Project in collaboration with NIDCOM, FHA, and FCT. This project spans over 675 hectares of land in Maitama 2.

Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa commended the Minister for his dedication and involvement, particularly noting the launch of the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme during the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit. She highlighted the enthusiasm among Nigerians in the Diaspora for both the Diaspora mortgage scheme and the forthcoming Diaspora smart city in Kabusa, Maitama, FCT.

With approximately 20 million Nigerians in the Diaspora contributing an average of over $24 billion annually to the Nigerian economy, the initiative holds significance in enhancing housing opportunities for this demographic.