The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has called on the Senate Committee on Housing to allocate more funding to his ministry to ensure the successful execution of seven critical housing sector programmes. Speaking on Monday during the budget defense session at the National Assembly, Dangiwa emphasized the need for increased financial support to implement projects that are vital to the nation’s economic recovery and growth.
Among the key projects highlighted by the minister are the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Housing Programme and the Slump Upgrading and Urban Renewal Programme. Dangiwa stressed that the current budget allocation was insufficient to meet the ambitious targets set by the government for 2025.
In his presentation, Dangiwa outlined the importance of these programmes, stating that the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Housing Programme is designed to serve as an economic growth driver. “The construction and development of these new areas will generate employment opportunities, stimulate local businesses, and attract investments,” he explained. With Phase I of the project aiming to deliver 50,000 housing units, Dangiwa noted that the programme would create over 1.25 million direct and indirect jobs across various sectors such as construction, engineering, and building materials supply.
Currently, the programme covers 12 states, but Dangiwa expressed a desire to expand to 18 states, with 250 units planned per site. The estimated cost for this expansion is N108 billion, or N6 billion per state.
Dangiwa also sought additional funds for the Slump Upgrading and Urban Renewal Programme, which is currently underway in four states in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). With 100 sites already in progress, the minister pointed out that at least N100 billion would be required to achieve the desired outcomes and ensure the sustainability of the programme.
Additionally, Dangiwa highlighted the pressing issue of liabilities faced by the Ministry of Housing. He revealed that the ministry is currently exposed to over N92 billion in liabilities for completed and certified projects that have not been paid due to limited time and budget constraints. To address this, he requested a provision of at least N60 billion in the 2025 budget proposal to reduce the ministry’s liability exposure.
In response, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, assured the minister of the committee’s support in addressing these issues. “We will support you by ensuring that we can work together with the Minister of Finance, the budget office, and even the Presidency to explore how best we can secure debt relief for the ministry and contractors,” he said.
The call for increased funding underscores the critical role of the housing sector in Nigeria’s broader economic strategy and its potential to create jobs and stimulate growth. As the government pushes forward with its transformative policies, the outcome of this year’s budget deliberations will be key to the successful implementation of these vital housing programmes.
