By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The newly appointed Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Dangiwa, has unveiled plans to reform the Federal Mortgage Bank Of Nigeria (FMBN), Federal Housing Authority (FHA), and other housing agencies to deliver world-class services to Nigerians.
Dangiwa disclosure this yesterday in Abuja, while addressing directors and staff of his ministry.
He said”His goal was to ensure that all the agencies under him were effective and efficient to deliver affordable and decent housing to Nigerians.
The minister, who also solicit for the support of the staff of the ministry, expressed his readiness to work closely with the National Assembly to review relevant laws to streamline land and housing administration.
He maintained that In line with the vision of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, I promise to take bold initiatives, champion strategic housing reforms, and break systemic barriers to housing and urban development. We will work with the National Assembly to review relevant laws to streamline land and housing administration and create a conducive environment for investment in the housing sector”.
He reiterated” We will reform the FMBN, Federal Housing Authority and other housing agencies, so they can have the necessary capacity, and the technological edge to deliver world-class services to Nigerians.
He said therefore,He would engage the services of data consultants to unravel the exact number of housing deficits in the country
“I don’t agree with the current data on housing deficit because honestly even my predecessors have opposed the figure mentioned around. But the problem is that no one has made efforts to come out with the correct figure and that is what they should have done.
“If you are in charge of any sector you must know the figures, challenges, and number of housing deficit if there is any. So my priority is that and I mentioned even during my screening that I will engage the services of data consultants who would go around the country and get the needed data.
“I am also aware that the national population commission will conduct a census on housing and the number of persons in need of a home. We have started conversations on that even before our inauguration.
“I have met with the chairman of the NPC and discussions are ongoing and I promise to make sure the relevant data on housing is made available soon. It is a task we have been given and we will make sure it is delivered.
“If we know the number of houses in the country and number of our population. We should know the average household number and if we have ten persons per household which equal 10 million then we need 1 million houses.
He said “By the first time we check the record and there are 800 thousand houses then we know there is a deficit of 200 thousand houses. So housing deficit will be known soon because it is very disheartening for us to go to international events to be asked about a number of housing deficits and we can’t provide answers. Within the next couple of months, we are going to address that issue”.
