Minister promises to address Nigeria's housing deficit with collaborative approach

Nigeria's newly appointed Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, has hit the ground running, promising a fresh, collaborative approach to address the country's staggering housing deficit. Speaking at his handover ceremony in Abuja, Darma emphasized that his administration will not operate in isolation but will actively seek cooperation from all stakeholders within and outside the housing sector. This inclusive leadership style is a welcome departure from potentially siloed approaches of the past.

“

We are going to do what I would call leadership and cooperation. So we don’t just lead, we’ve got to seek the cooperation of others who are in this industry. And even others who are not in this industry but are important in this industry.

Darma did not shy away from the enormity of the challenge, acknowledging that Nigeria's housing deficit is a moving target, with estimates ranging from 14 million to as high as 20 million units. He stressed the critical need for strategic planning, clear direction, and focused execution to bridge this gap. The minister's commitment to setting key performance indicators and holding himself accountable to measurable targets signals a results-oriented administration.

“

The 14 plus million housing deficit we are talking about, I tell you, some other analysts put it at 20 million.

A significant point of concern for Darma is the issue of housing affordability. He pointed out the exorbitant prices of houses, even one-bedroom units, in major cities like Abuja, which place them out of reach for the average Nigerian, particularly the middle class. His pledge to investigate and ensure that housing becomes affordable across all Nigerian cities is a crucial promise that resonates deeply with a population struggling with rising living costs.

“

But that means that what we need to be strategic, we need to plan very well, we need to make sure that we are focused, and we need to know where we are going.

The Minister of State, Yusuf Ata, also present at the ceremony, highlighted the ministry's past achievements, particularly through Public-Private Partnerships and the employment generated by the Renewed Hope Housing Programme. This suggests a foundation of ongoing initiatives that Darma can build upon. From a Nigerian perspective, the housing deficit is not merely a statistic; it represents millions of families lacking adequate shelter and the economic implications of a construction sector that could provide significant employment. Darma's focus on collaboration and affordability offers a beacon of hope for a more inclusive and sustainable housing future for the nation.

“

The second aspect we are touching is the affordability. Some of these houses are not affordable. For example, a one-bedroom house sells in Abuja for 25 million or 30 million.