The new Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqa Rabe Darma has resumed duty, promising that they will make sustainability factor to play major role in the construction of bungalow programmes and projects in the country.

Darma made the assertion when resuming work in Abuja, explaining that all the houses bought by the civil servants and other individuals should be maintained by the occupants, and they should not expect the Federal Government to carry out that aspect of the schemes.

He hinted that they will adopt leadership and cooperation drive of other sectors in the industry to enhance housing construction work, calling on critical stakeholders to engage with the Ministry in order to boost the country’s housing stock.

On current deficit, the Minister stressed that there are many figures coming out lately by property experts, believing that it may be between 20 and 22 million and they will work assiduously to reduce the figures, and give Nigerians mass houses.

“We will do everything possible to make affordable houses practical and reality in Abuja city centre and other cities in Nigeria. Imagine, one bedroom apartment goes for between N5 or N6 million in Abuja, and we’ll not leave any stone unturned to get it reduced for the low income earners,”he added.

According to the Housing Minister, they are going to take briefs in terms of good ideas from the Directors that would show the ministry the key indicators and work hard to bring progress into housing business in Nigeria.

“We are all in the team, and we’ll approach housing delivery with the President Bola Tinubu. We hope to get our strength and weakness in order to drive home affordability in the built ecosystem.”

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary,Dr. Shaibu Belgore while handing over the new Minister stressed that Ministry was created from Works and Housing in 2023 to address Nigeria’s housing and urban development needs, thanking the immediate past Minister Ahmed Dangiwa for laying foundation for sector.

Belgore said they have made housing impact in 35 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), saying the activities have contribute to boost small scale industries and into the national stock.

He therefore assured the Minister that the staff would continue to support him for the implementation of national housing development projects so that affordable apartments will be delivered to the people.