2025 Budget: Minister Seeks More Funds For Renewed Hope Cities, Others

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, is seeking more funds for seven critical housing sector programmes.

He said these projects include the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Housing Programme, Slump Upgrading and Urban Renewal Programme, and others.

Dangiwa called during the budget defence session of the Senate Committee on Housing, held on Monday at the National Assembly Complex.

“I request that the Distinguished Chairman and Members of this critical Committee use their good offices to increase the budgetary allocation in several key areas.

“This is because these areas are critical to Mr President’s transformative policies and programmes to put the economy on the path of recovery and growth.

“It is pertinent to state here that in the 2024 fiscal year, the sum of N162.609 billion was allocated to our Ministry, which amount was considered inadequate.

“Yet, we have been given an envelope of

N83.752 billion is the Ministry’s Capital Budget Ceiling for 2025, which is a far cry from even the 2024 Appropriation. ”

He said the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Housing Programme was designed to stimulate economic growth.

“The construction and development of these new areas will generate employment opportunities, stimulate local businesses and attract investments.

“The 50,000 units planned to deliver under phase I will create 1 250 000 direct and indirect construction jobs for Architects, Engineers, plumbers, iron benders, masons, etc

“This is in addition to the value chain effect of purchase, supply of building materials and other businesses.

“We have covered 12 States and would like to cover 18 at 250 units per site. The amount needed to achieve this is N108 N6 billion per state.

He said the “Slump Upgrading and Urban Renewal Programme” also required increased budgetary allocation.

“Currently, there are ongoing programmes in four states in each geopolitical zone, including FCT.

“This means four sites in four states of each geopolitical zone, including four sites in FCT, bringing the total to 100. At least N100 billion is needed for better results,” he said.

Dangiwa further said that the ministry was exposed to huge liabilities arising from projects completed, duly certified for payments before the end of the budgetary year but not paid due to limited time.

“There is the need to make adequate provisions for liabilities to enable the ministry to reduce the number of liabilities it is exposed to.

“The Ministry has over N92 billion liabilities but would need nothing less than N60 billion in the 2025 Budget to reduce the exposure,” Dangiwa said.

In his remarks, Sen. Aminu Tambuwal, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing, assured the minister of his support for tackling the issue of incurred liabilities.

“We will support you by working together to see how best we can approach the Minister of Finance, the budget office, and even the Presidency.

“How best we can get this debt relief on the part of the ministry and the part of our contractors.”