From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa has sought for increased budgetary allocation to deliver the presidential mandate of providing affordable housing and reducing the housing deficit.
The minister gave the highlight during the 2025 budget defence before the Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, and the House of Representatives Committee on Housing and Habitat respectively.
Dangiwa, who, alongside the Minister of State, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata led the management staff of the ministry to the budget defence, also presented the 2023/2024 budget performance of the ministry.
In his presentation, he highlighted the ministry’s priorities for 2025, emphasising the need to complete ongoing housing projects, slum upgrading, and urban renewal programs across the nation.
Dangiwa also listed the focus areas of his ministry in the 2025 budget to include; construction of 20,000 housing units under the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda, and completion of National Housing projects in over 20 states and the FCT.
Accordingly, the minister urged the committee to increase budget allocations in seven key areas which,he said, were critical to the transformative policies and programmes of the president to put the economy on the path of recovery and growth.
The seven key areas, he mentioned were: increased funding for the completion of ongoing housing projects, enhanced allocation for slum upgrading and urban renewal programmes, additional resources for the National Housing projects and improved funding for affordable housing initiatives.
Others are enhanced allocation for housing infrastructure development, increased support for housing research and development and improved funding for housing policy and regulatory framework development.
In a statement, both committees expressed their support for the vision and commitment of the ministry to turn around the housing sector of the country and assured the ministry of their collaboration to assist the ministry to meet its demands and obligations.