Housing Ministry Launches Mid-Term Review to Enforce Council Resolutions and Drive Sector Reforms
As Concern Over Non-Implementation of Previous Resolutions Sparks New Monitoring Initiative
By Auwal Ahmad, Gombe
In a landmark move to ensure the effective implementation of resolutions made by the National Council on Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has introduced a mid-term monitoring and review mechanism.
This initiative aims to drive forward the nation’s housing agenda by holding stakeholders accountable for the commitments made at the Council’s annual meetings.
During the 13th Council meeting, held in Gombe State on November 13, 2024, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, emphasized the need to address long-standing issues of non-implementation of Council resolutions. Ogunbiyi, who chairs the body of Permanent Secretaries in the Council, confirmed that resolutions would be presented to state commissioners for further deliberation and adoption.
The theme for this year’s meeting, “Housing the Future: Affordable Housing for Economic Growth, Climate Resilience, and Urban Development,” underscores the urgency of achieving sustainable housing solutions.
“After years of Council resolutions not being fully implemented, we submitted a memo this year seeking Council approval for mid-term monitoring. I’m pleased to report that our request was approved by the Technical Session and will be reviewed by the Permanent Secretaries today,” Ogunbiyi announced.
The new mechanism will oversee the compliance of all housing sector stakeholders, tracking the progress of key programs such as the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Housing Programme, which has seen advancements across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones. Additionally, the Ministry is set to launch the National Housing Data Center (NHDC), a centralized database designed to support informed housing policy and planning. The Steering Committee, chaired by Ogunbiyi, will manage the collection and analysis of national housing data, facilitating access to essential data for decision-making.
Public-Private Collaboration Highlighted as Key to Affordable Housing
Addressing the Council, Ogunbiyi called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, innovation, and community involvement to meet Nigeria’s demand for affordable, sustainable housing. He described this year’s theme as a “call to action” and urged stakeholders to actively contribute their expertise toward realizing the objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Engr. Usman Kallamu, Gombe State’s Commissioner for Works, Housing, and Transportation, also highlighted the Council’s significance in enhancing affordable housing’s role in Nigeria’s economic and urban development. He encouraged participants to engage actively and work together to address these shared objectives.
Expert Papers Address Key Sector Challenges
As part of the Council meeting, presentations by the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) addressed issues like building collapse and mortgage administration. Experts emphasized that causes of building collapse often stem from a lack of skilled supervision, poor-quality materials, and inadequate regulatory oversight.
By implementing these resolutions and strengthening monitoring mechanisms, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development aims to bring long-needed reforms to Nigeria’s housing sector, fostering an environment that prioritizes affordable, resilient, and sustainable housing for all Nigerians.
