Fixing Nigeria’s Housing Data Problem Our Top Priority — Minister

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has emphasised that Federal Government under its Renewed Hope Agenda has prioritised addressing the country’s housing data challenges.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Steering Committee on the National Housing Data Centre in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister stressed that the stability and peace of any nation are closely linked to the efficiency of its housing market.

He stated, “Ensuring access to decent and affordable housing is not only a social and moral responsibility of the government, but also a catalyst for economic development, job creation, and poverty alleviation.”

He noted that history and the experiences of other countries show that it is rare for any nation to grow, achieve peace, and enjoy stability without an efficient housing market that provides decent shelter for its citizens.

However, he acknowledged that Nigeria was far from where it should be in unleashing the sector’s potential as a key enabler of economic growth. One of the key issues in the sector, according to the Minister, is the lack of credible, scientific, and verifiable data on the state of housing in Nigeria.

He described the issue as both pressing and embarrassing. “Without data, we cannot know the magnitude of the problem we are facing, how much resources we need to allocate, for how long, which areas to focus on, which markets to prioritize, and a whole host of other considerations. In fact, we would be flying blind. This is not sustainable,” he said.

The Minister stated that the government has declared this a national emergency for the housing sector, and under the Renewed Hope Agenda, fixing Nigeria’s housing data problem has become a top priority

Dangiwa expressed his excitement about the inauguration of the Joint Steering Committee on National Housing Data, which has been established as a strategic partnership among key stakeholders in Nigeria’s housing market.

The Committee’s mandate is to develop and implement a blueprint to ensure transparency and ease of access to housing data in Nigeria, which will be essential for policy and decision-making towards affordable housing and the well-being of Nigerians.

The Committee includes representatives from Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (Chair), National Population Commission, National Bureau of Statistics as well as Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria others are Federal Housing Authority, Family Homes Funds Limited Mortgage Bankers Association of Nigeria includingbHousing Development Association of Nigeria, Real Estate Developers’ Association of Nigeria and Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria

He said the Joint Committee (JC) will oversee all matters outlined in the Terms of Reference, including providing direction and oversight, monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the Committee’s commitments, resolving issues, and making recommendations to facilitate the objectives of the partners. Adding that It will also serve as a forum for partners to exchange information, discuss best practices, and address any other matters related to the strategic partnership.

He stated that the joint committee is also mandated to set up a Technical Working Group (TWG) comprising data experts and professionals responsible for carrying out the detailed technical work required to meet the Committee’s deliverables. This includes producing the blueprint for establishing the National Housing Data Centre, covering the technical and operational framework, financing, sustainable management, and more.