The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has pledged its support to Nigeria’s commitment to fostering transformative change in human settlements and improving the urban environment for housing development.
Its newly elected Executive Director, Ms. Anaclaudia Rossbach, asserted during the second meeting of the 2024 Executive Board session yesterday in Nairobi, Kenya, chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed M. Dangiwa.
She commended Nigeria’s effective leadership of the UN-Habitat Executive Board, lauded Dangiwa for his focused stewardship, and expressed her gratitude for the country’s recent approval of a $500,000 contribution to the organisation.
“We greatly appreciate Nigeria’s commitment, exemplified by the Chair of the Executive Board, in advancing the mandate of UN-Habitat. This reflects its dedication to our partnership,” she added.
According to her, the funding will bolster the Country Office in Nigeria, enhancing its capacity to provide multi-level support for achieving Nigeria’s housing and urban development goals.
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Earlier, Dangiwa had announced that President Bola Tinubu approved the Ministry’s request for a $500,000 contribution to UN-Habitat, adding that this is in connection with the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and UN-Habitat for the period of 2022–2027.
He stressed that the amount covers the outstanding Tranche 1 contribution for 2022–2023, noting that under the MoU, they are tasked with working with the Ministry to mobilize technical expertise, capacity, and financial resources at national, regional, and international levels to drive impactful projects.
The Minister explained that it also supports the development and implementation of projects and activities, provision of technical advisory services, and capacity-building assistance to federal, state, and local governments.
“UN-Habitat will help foster partnerships and establish effective collaboration with bilateral and multilateral development partners. We recognise the critical importance of enhanced funding to support the organisation’s objectives.”
Dangiwa, therefore, added that the Ministry is determined to maximise the value of its relationships with bilateral institutions such as UN-Habitat towards actualising the Renewed Hope Agenda for housing and urban development.
“These milestones are expected to strengthen the realisation of the global vision for human settlements at the national level. The emphasis on the sustainability and inclusiveness of the strategic plan is particularly reassuring,” he added.
