Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has thrown his weight behind the NUJ FCT Council’s Journalists’ Village Project, assuring the body of land allocation and support through the Ministry’s cooperative housing initiatives.
The Director of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Salisu Haiba, said this in a statement in which Dangiwa affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to including journalists in ongoing housing programmes.
Dangiwa lauded the media’s contribution to governance, saying, “They bridge the gap between government and the people, informing, explaining and challenging the government to do better.”
He also expressed gratitude to the NUJ FCT Council for highlighting the Ministry’s policies and programmes despite limited resources, describing their collaboration with the Ministry’s Media and Communications team as commendable.
The Minister outlined the Renewed Hope Housing Programme under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as a comprehensive strategy to tackle the country’s housing deficit.
He explained that the programme is structured around three key components: the Renewed Hope Cities, which will deliver 1,000 housing units in each of the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory; the Renewed Hope Estates, aimed at providing 250 housing units in every state capital; and the Renewed Hope Social Housing initiative, designed to build 100 housing units in each local government area across the country.
He announced the commencement of over 10,000 housing units across 14 states and the FCT, alongside over 150 completed slum upgrade and urban renewal projects, including roads, clean water, and solar lighting.
He also highlighted structural reform efforts, including a partnership with state governments and the World Bank for the Nigeria Land Registration, Documentation, and Titling Programme, expected to unlock $300bn in dead capital.
Furthermore, he revealed a deal with Shelter Afrique Development Bank to finance 5,000 affordable homes and plans for Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs in every geopolitical zone to cut construction costs.
Responding directly to the Union’s request on the Journalists’ Village, the Minister pledged support through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Cooperative Housing Development initiative.
He said, “Secure a titled land and an architect to design the houses, and I will direct the Federal Mortgage Bank to facilitate cooperative housing development. Journalists will be allocated the houses with a payment plan of up to thirty years at a six per cent interest rate.”
Dangiwa also promised that the ministry would inspect the NUJ’s ongoing Pentagon building for further support.
Earlier, NUJ FCT Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, praised the Minister’s bold and people-centred approach to housing, applauding his international advocacy, particularly at the World Urban Forum, and his commitment to inclusive, disability-friendly housing.
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