By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Federal government is set to establish building materials manufacturing hubs nationwide to actualise the Renewed Hope Agenda Action Plan for housing and urban development.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, said this during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the International Financial Corporation (IFC), led by Dr Dahlia Khalifa – Regional Director, Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Dangiwa, who was represented by the Minister of State, Alhaji Abdullahi Gwarzo, said that the establishment of the hub was in line with the ministry’s housing reform initiatives.

According to him, the reforms were aimed to deliver decent, affordable, and quality housing to Nigerians across all income segments.
“Establishing Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs across the country, implementing a Nationwide Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrading programme is one of the actionable strategies to achieve the renewed hope agenda in housing development.

“Also, the development of New Cities that are integrated and inclusive, using a demand driven strategy that will ensure prompt offtake of units built,” he said.

The minister, further listed other strategies put in place to achieve the renewed hope agenda to include strengthening the institutional capacity of agencies under its supervision including the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).

Dangiwa added that plans to increase the supply of decent and affordable housing, establishing a National Social Housing Fund (NSHF), and implementing land reforms to enhance easy and cost-effective access to land were also in place.

He commended the work of the IFC in providing funding for developmental projects across Africa.

The minister also called for a deeper partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to implement reforms to actualise the Renewed Hope Action Plan for housing and urban development across the country.

He noted that Nigeria was yet to maximise its partnership with the body, especially in the area of housing and urban development.

“Upon reviewing your 2023 Annual Report, I noticed that the IFC has committed over $128.3 billion in loans, grants, investments, and guarantees to partner countries and private businesses.

“In Sub-Saharan Africa, the report indicates that the IFC committed over $38.6 billion. What remains unclear to me is the specific amount of this investment that flowed into Nigeria, both for the country and private businesses” Dangiwa said.

He said that the focus and priorities of the new government required an enhanced and expanded partnership with the IFC.

“We are determined to realise the bold vision of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for housing and urban development.

“As the drivers of His Excellency’s vision at the Ministry, we are intent on implementing a Comprehensive Framework for the Reform of the Housing and Urban Sector in the country”, he said.

“We would like the IFC and our team to work out a Structured Actionable framework that would see the Ministry and IFC sign a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement on Housing and Urban Development.

“Covering all areas of IFC’s interventions related to housing and urban development. We would expect this agreement to state what the IFC can do to assist us in achieving our housing and urban development plans, as well as the Ministry’s responsibilities,” he said.

The minister reiterated the ministry’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.

“Particularly, the Ministry, like the IFC, views the private sector as a key partner in our efforts to increase access to affordable housing for Nigerians.

“A key part of our strategy is to create an enabling environment for increased private-sector investment in housing and urban development.

“Therefore, we seek a partnership with the IFC that enables more of our private developers to access funding through IFC mechanisms.

“While we work towards an agreement, in the interim, we propose that our teams collaborate to develop modalities for a Ministry-sponsored workshop.

“This workshop will facilitate a meeting between the IFC and our private developers to explain the procedures for accessing finance to drive their projects.

“In this new era, we want more Nigerian developers to access funding using the mechanism of the IFC,” he said.

Dangiwa further assured the corporation of the ministry’s commitment to transparency and accountability in their collaborations.

“Our sole goal is to deliver on Mr. President’s objective of providing decent and quality accommodation to all Nigerians, especially the 80 percent falling within the medium and low segments.

“We aim to build livable communities and leverage the housing sector to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty”, he said.

Senior Country Manager of the IFC, Mr Kalim Shah noted that housing was a major focus of the IFC across Africa where they service both the supply and demand sides of the industry.

He said that the purpose of the visit was to understand what the ministry was doing and see how the group could partner and support their efforts to enhance the delivery of affordable housing to Nigerians.

“We see some honest desire on the part of the new government to provide affordable housing to the people, and we’ve come as partners to see how we can support what you’re doing.

“As an arm of the World Bank, our focus is primarily on private sector investment, so we’ are looking for areas where we can work with the ministry in line with your vision for decent and affordable housing solutions to Nigerians, “he said.

Also speaking, Senior Investment Officer, Public-Private Partnership of IFC, Alexander Leigh, said the corporation would want to engage the ministry in a bid to identify the specific areas of need and know how to provide solutions.

He added that the IFC considers factors like access to land and its administration, construction costs, the situation of beneficiaries to occupy the houses, and affordability in its dealings with countries.

He expressed excitement at the ministry’s efforts to address such issues. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Bayo Sekoni

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

Mr Christopher Maikalangu, Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has said that the Federal Government’s palliatives would be distributed equally to the vulnerable persons in the area council without recourse to ethnic, religion or political affiliation.

He gave the assurance at the flag-off of the second batch distribution of the palliatives at the AMAC Town Hall, Apo Resettlement, on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that the first batch which took place last week was carefully monitored and distributed to residents who were invited from the 12 political wards of the council.

The chairman, who appreciated the President, FCT Minister and the FCT Minister of State for their rapid response to the yearnings of Nigerians, also pleaded for more palliatives for the people.

He said that the area council, with support of the FCT Administration and investors are working out more ways to provide mass transportation to ease the high cost of transportation in the council.

He added that his administration was also working on social development intervention to support the non-formal vulnerable groups as well as its health sector. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Diana Omueza

The Initiative for the Alleviation of Vulnerable Persons from Poverty (IAVPP), a Non-Governmental Organisation, has distributed food items to no fewer than 200 vulnerable households in Ruga Community, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, tagged “Ruga Food Drive”, was organised on Tuesday in Abuja in collaboration with Beacon Consulting, DME Group and Womenovate.

Mrs Juliana Okoro, Executive Director, IAVPP, said the objective of the food drive was to provide essential food items to those in need and to alleviate hunger in the community

Okoro said that the food drive was expected to help cushion the effect of the economic hardship on the lives of members of the beneficiary 200 households.

“In the past, IAVPP has visited four communities around the FCT and distributed over 950 relief materials to aid the underserved.

“Our mission is to keep doing this and empower people and communities with the resources to enable them to live better lives and end extreme poverty.

“By distributing these food items, the beneficiaries will have access to nutritious meals and can meet their basic nutritional requirements.

“This charitable effort not only offers immediate relief but also fosters a sense of community empathy and support, helping to create a stronger, more compassionate society that takes care of its most vulnerable members,” she said.

She called for government intervention, adding that there was an urgent need to take action against hunger and food insecurity in the country.

The IAVPP executive director also said that the food intervention would not only address immediate needs of those suffering from hunger, but also show governments commitment to the broader vision of achieving the global zero hunger mission.

Similarly, Mrs Juliet Odogwu, Chairperson, IAVPP, said that the food would help vulnerable men, women and children regain hope in humanity and boost self-worth.

“The issue of food security and access to nutritious meals remains an escalating concern in many communities in Nigeria.

“With our mission deeply rooted in eradicating hunger, we are commemorating World Food Day in a meaningful way by launching this food drive project in Ruga community.

“I believe it is our collective obligation to contribute to underserved communities around us and ensure that no one goes to bed hungry,” she said.

NAN reports that some of the beneficiaries in the community lauded the group on their intervention and humanitarian support and called for more support from the government and others.

NAN also reports that items donated include rice, spaghetti, noodles, tomato paste, Maggi, salt among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Vincent Obi

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

Mr Christopher Maikalangu, the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) on Sunday began distribution of palliatives approved by the Federal Government to no fewer than 100 residents of the area council.

Maikalangu said the palliatives were meant to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

The chairman who appreciated President Bola Tinubu for approving the provision of the palliatives, also commended the FCT Minister for ensuring that the palliatives got the people at the grassroot.

He said that the council on its part showed a sense of equality and transparency in the distribution of the palliatives.

“Residents of AMAC were invited, irrespective of their ethnic groups, religion inclination and political affiliation.

“They were all drawn from the 12 political wards of the council, we want to continue the good works and show commitment in order to touch the lives of our people,” he said.

He called for contributions from good-spirited individuals and philanthropists to help meet the needs of the people, as the government could not do it alone.

He however enjoined the recipients to make optimal use of the palliatives.

A beneficiary, Mr John Musa, appreciated the federal government, the Minister and the AMAC Chairman for the palliatives.

“I am so happy today and I want to appreciate them all for these palliatives.

“The people are happy with the food items we have received as these items would go a long way in our lives,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items distributed include; rice, maize, vegetable oil among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza