The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has assured that the long-awaited affordable housing estate for members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, will soon become a reality.

The minister gave the assurance at the NUJ FCT Press week lecture and awards ceremony in Abuja with the theme “Journalism in a Changing World: Press Freedom, Media, Democracy, and Society.”

Dangiwa said the project, popularly referred to as the “Journalists’ Village,” aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to expand access to affordable homes through the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and National Urban Renewal Initiatives.

The minister disclosed that the Federal Government, through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and its Cooperative Housing Development scheme, will collaborate with the union to secure land and facilitate construction of the estate for journalists.

He said, “To Chairman, NUJ FCT chapter, I want to assure you of our previous engagement and discussions towards having the journalists’ village in the FCT.

“I assure you that your dream will become a reality as I have pledged you during our courtesy call and meeting engagement we had with you. We are going to direct the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), through the Cooperative Housing Development to provide the land to build this estate”.

Dangiwa also advocated stronger legal protections for journalists, better funding models for independent media, saying we need to make sure that every journalist feels safe, respected and supported.

He urged journalists to continue scrutinising the ministry’s programs and projects, helping Nigerians understand its work and objectives.

“I say this not just as a minister, but as a citizen who believes in the power of ideas and the sensibility of those who support them.

“We want Nigerians to understand why we are doing it, and no one is better placed to help tell that story than you, the journalists, editors, photographers, producers, publishers, who serve as the eyes and ears of the public,” he said.

The minister commended Tinubu for championing democratic ideals, including freedom of the press.

He noted that under Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria has witnessed a genuine commitment to transparency, open dialogue, and respect for the role of the media.

“That’s not just lip service. It’s a policy, it’s a practice and it’s a part of the Renew Hope Agenda,’’ he added.

The minister advocated for stronger legal protections and better funding models for independent media, stressing the need to ensure that every journalist feels safe, respected, and supported.

Noting the importance of press freedom in the world now driven by technology, Dangiwa acknowledged that today’s journalism landscape presents both opportunities and risk.

He said that while press freedom is currently under pressure globally, it remains vital for the development of any nation and its democracy.

“On one hand, digital innovation has made it easier to reach audiences, tell stories in real time and expose wrongdoing. On the other hand, it has also made the job more dangerous.

Earlier in her remarks, the Chairperson, NUJ FCT Council, Grace Ike, listed the development of the NUJ FCT Journalists’ Village as one of the priorities to be pursued by the council.

While describing it as a long-awaited housing initiative, Ike said the union was working in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to make it a reality.

She said: “Our goal is simple: provide decent, affordable homes for journalists and their families in the heart of the nation’s capital.

“Other initiatives unveiled by her were modernization of the NUJ FCT Congress Hall, procurement of a union coastal bus, completion of the NUJ Pentagon Halland the establishment of a journalists’ welfare scheme. These projects are not luxuries; they are foundational investments in the future of journalism and in the well-being of those who power it.

“I call on government stakeholders, media proprietors, partners, and friends of the union to join us in making these dreams a reality.”