By Emmanuel Oloniruha
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has assured the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council that the long-awaited affordable housing estate for its members will soon become a reality.
Dangiwa gave the assurance on Tuesday during the NUJ FCT Council Press Week Lecture and Awards Ceremony in Abuja, themed “Journalism in a Changing World: Press Freedom, Media, Democracy, and Society.”
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and the National Urban Renewal Initiatives, aimed at making housing more affordable nationwide.
Addressing the NUJ FCT Chairman, Dangiwa said, “Our previous discussions on establishing a journalists’ village in the FCT will come to fruition.
“We will direct the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, through the Cooperative Housing Development, to provide the land for this estate.”
The minister also stressed the need for stronger legal protections and better funding for independent media, emphasising the importance of making journalists feel safe, respected, and supported.
He urged journalists to continue scrutinising the ministry’s programmes, helping Nigerians understand the government’s housing objectives.
“No one is better placed to tell this story than you, the journalists, who serve as the eyes and ears of the public,” he said.
Dangiwa lauded President Tinubu’s commitment to democratic ideals and press freedom, noting that transparency and open dialogue were key pillars of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Highlighting challenges in today’s digital age, he acknowledged that while technology offered new opportunities for journalism, it also exposed journalists, especially women, to risks such as misinformation and online harassment.
“Press freedom is under pressure worldwide, but it remains vital for democracy. Accurate, timely, and fearless information is the foundation of good governance,” Dangiwa said.
Earlier, NUJ FCT Chairperson, Ms. Grace Ike, identified the development of the journalists’ housing estate as a top priority for the council.
She said the council was working closely with the Ministry of Housing and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to bring the project to life.
“Our goal is simple: to provide decent, affordable homes for journalists and their families in the nation’s capital,” Ike said.
She also unveiled other key initiatives, including modernisation of the NUJ FCT Congress Hall, procurement of a union bus, completion of the NUJ Pentagon Hall, and establishment of a journalists’ welfare scheme.
“These projects are foundational investments in the future of journalism and the well-being of those who power it,” she added, calling on government, media proprietors, partners, and friends of the union to support the efforts. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
