FG Fast-track Urban Renewal, Affordable Housing with UN-Habitat

The federal government has stepped up efforts to tackle Nigeria’s housing deficit and urban challenges by deepening its partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), with a renewed commitment to accelerating affordable housing delivery, urban renewal and sustainable city development across the country.

Housing and Urban Development minister, Muttaqa Rabe Darma, made this known while receiving the regional director of UN-Habitat for Africa, Oumar Sylla, and his delegation during a courtesy visit to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

The minister reaffirmed the federal government’s determination to transform Nigeria’s urban landscape through strategic collaboration with the UN agency, describing the organisation as a critical development partner in implementing the country’s housing and urban development agenda.

He commended UN-Habitat for its sustained technical support to the ministry and several state governments, particularly its role in reviewing the National Urban Development Policy, which he described as a major milestone towards building sustainable and inclusive cities.

Darma said the administration would prioritise urban renewal programmes as a key strategy for driving economic growth, reducing insecurity and improving the quality of life in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding cities.

According to him, issues relating to slum mapping, urban planning and orderly city development would receive greater government attention as part of efforts to address the nation’s growing urbanisation challenges.

He called for stronger collaboration with UN-Habitat in affordable housing delivery, climate-resilient infrastructure, capacity building, urban renewal and the effective implementation of the National Urban Development Policy.

The minister also assured the UN agency that the federal government remained committed to settling Nigeria’s outstanding financial obligations under the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), despite prevailing fiscal constraints.

He explained that the ministry was already engaging relevant government authorities to facilitate the release of the funds, stressing that Nigeria remained committed to honouring its obligations.

Darma further pledged the federal government’s support for retaining and strengthening UN-Habitat’s presence in Nigeria, expressing confidence that the partnership would continue to deliver lasting benefits through sustainable housing, improved urban infrastructure and inclusive development.

Earlier, the UN-Habitat regional director for Africa, Oumar Sylla, described Nigeria as one of the organisation’s most strategic partners in advancing sustainable urbanisation across Africa.

He congratulated the minister on his appointment and briefed him on the agency’s ongoing interventions in Nigeria, including affordable housing projects, improved land administration, urban transformation initiatives, expansion of basic services and programmes supporting internally displaced persons, particularly in the North-East.

Sylla disclosed that UN-Habitat had also strengthened collaboration with states including Niger, Yobe, Adamawa and Katsina, noting that the partnerships were already yielding positive development outcomes.

He appealed to the Federal Government to sustain its support for the agency’s operations and expedite the settlement of Nigeria’s outstanding financial commitments to ensure the continued operation of UN-Habitat’s Country Office.

The UN official also urged Nigeria to actively participate in the forthcoming High-Level Political Forum in New York, describing it as a strategic platform to advance the country’s urban development priorities and attract greater international cooperation.