News Investigators/ Newly sworn-in Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, has pledged to address Nigeria’s housing deficit through innovation, strategic planning and effective service delivery.
Mr Darma spoke on Friday shortly after taking the oath of office before President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
He said public office came with responsibility and accountability to oneself, the people and God.
“I know I have been given responsibility, and I must deliver to the best of my ability.”
Mr Darma assured Nigerians that positive changes would be seen in the housing sector in no distant time.
He acknowledged that the sector faced enormous challenges, especially the country’s huge housing shortfall.
According to him, Nigeria currently needs about 20 million housing units to provide accommodation for millions of citizens without homes.
He said meeting such demand would require substantial funding, long-term planning and practical reforms.
The minister, however, expressed confidence that strategic focus and creativity would help bridge the gap.
“We will bring a lot of innovation and creativity to ensure that we do well and many unhoused people will be housed,” he said.
Mr Darma said he would first study the ministry’s operational realities before outlining detailed interventions.
He noted that private real estate developers were thriving, while many government housing assets remained unattractive or underutilised.
According to him, this suggested the need to review existing government housing models and identify gaps.
“There must be something we are not seeing and why we are having those challenges.”
He pledged to work toward making public housing more effective, accessible and sustainable.
Mr Darma succeeds Ahmed Dangiwa, whose exit followed a minor Federal Executive Council (FEC) reshuffle announced by the Presidency on Tuesday.
NAN
