🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
New Housing Minister pledges collaborative approach to address Nigeria’s housing deficit and affordability
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Muttaqha Darma, Nigeria's newly appointed Minister of Housing and Urban Development, has committed to a collaborative leadership strategy to tackle the nation's housing deficit and enhance affordability. Speaking at his handover ceremony in Abuja, Darma emphasized prioritizing cooperation with key stakeholders and setting measurable performance indicators. He urged stakeholders to hold him accountable for achieving these targets. The minister highlighted the significant housing shortfall, with estimates ranging from 14 million to 20 million units, and stressed the need for strategic planning and active engagement with industry players. He also expressed concern over the high cost of housing, particularly in major cities like Abuja, where a one-bedroom house can cost 25 million to 30 million, making it unaffordable for the middle class. Darma pledged to ensure housing affordability across Nigeria. Yusuf Ata, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, noted the ministry's achievements through Public-Private Partnerships, including large-scale housing projects under the Renewed Hope Housing Programme that created over 300,000 direct and indirect jobs. However, Ata acknowledged that funding challenges, such as inadequate and delayed budgetary allocations, continue to impede progress. He expressed confidence in Darma's ability to build on existing gains through sustained collaboration with private investors to deliver affordable housing and foster economic growth.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Iraq's newly elected president, Nizar Amede, has nominated businessman Ali al-Zaidi as the country's prime minister-designate. This nomination followed an endorsement from the Coordination Framework, the main Shia alliance in Iraq. The presidency stated that President Amede tasked Ali al-Zaidi, the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc, with forming the new government. The Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shia factions, initially supported Nouri al-Maliki for the position but changed its stance after an ultimatum from US President Donald Trump. Trump had threatened to withdraw US support if Maliki, who has close ties to Iran, returned to power. The Coordination Framework praised Maliki and caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for withdrawing their candidacies. Zaidi, a businessman, banker, and television channel owner, is considered a compromise figure and is not widely known in political circles, having never held a government post. In Iraq, a nomination by the largest Shiite bloc typically leads to a presidential appointment, but Trump's threats complicated the process, leading to extensive discussions to select a new candidate.
The Kukah Centre is conducting a week-long training for 300 personnel of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps. This initiative, part of the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria SPRiNG programme implemented by Tetra Tech International Development, focuses on Standard Operating Procedures, human rights protection, and alternative dispute resolution. Participants are drawn from all 34 local government areas of Katsina State. The training addresses the ongoing violence in Nigeria, particularly in the North-West and North-Central regions, and the increasing reliance on community-based security outfits. The Katsina State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Fadila Dikko, commended the organisers, urging participants to apply the knowledge gained. Ukoha Ukiwo, Team Lead of the SPRiNG programme, highlighted its focus on improving service delivery in peace, security, and justice institutions, promoting women and youth participation, supporting livelihoods, and addressing farmer-herder conflicts. SPRiNG has also partnered with the Katsina State Government on capacity building for traditional rulers and female traditional leaders, and supported ministries in conflict management. The Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mu’azu, described the training as timely. Project Manager Bamber Terseer stated the project aims to strengthen community security structures and enhance coordination among security actors. Commander-General of the
Must ReadHabiba Abubakar, mother of Abdulsamad Jamiu, a National Youth Service Corps member allegedly killed by soldiers in Dei-Dei, Abuja, has detailed the night she learned of his death. She was away for a burial when a neighbor called about gunshots. Her husband was initially evasive, telling her soldiers had taken Abdulsamad for interrogation. Her phone was taken from her, and when she eventually got it back, she realized her son was dead. She recounted being told that soldiers scaled their fence, entered through the backyard, and shot her son through his room door. She alleged that soldiers then instructed vigilante members to clean up the blood using items from her kitchen. Abdulsamad, 24, was killed on April 25 at his family home while his parents were absent. The Nigerian Army's Headquarters Guards Brigade claimed Jamiu was caught in a crossfire during a response to a distress call about armed robbers. However, the family rejected this account as "false, misleading, and an affront to the memory of an innocent young man," stating that the bullet trajectory indicated a shot fired from outside through a closed door, inconsistent with a firefight. They also noted no weapons were recovered, no armed adversary was identified, and only one gunshot was heard. The family further alleged that soldiers admitted at the scene, in the presence of a Divisional Police Officer, that they had made a mistake. The family is demanding an independent investigation, suspension and prosecution of tho
Must ReadKing Charles III arrived in Washington on Monday for a four-day state visit, his first to the US since becoming king in 2022, accompanied by Queen Camilla. The visit aims to address strained relations with Donald Trump, particularly concerning the Iran war, which has impacted the "special relationship" between the two nations. The royal couple was greeted at Joint Base Andrews by Britain’s ambassador Christian Turner and White House protocol chief Monica Crowley. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the visit would honor the long-standing ties between the US and UK. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will host King Charles and Queen Camilla at the White House, including tea and a tour of a new beehive. On Tuesday, the royals will meet the Trumps in the Oval Office and attend a state dinner. King Charles is also scheduled to address Congress, becoming the first British monarch to do so since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. The visit will continue in New York on Wednesday with a tour of the 9/11 memorial, before the royals depart for Bermuda on Thursday. The visit proceeds despite a recent attack at the White House Correspondents Dinner, with Buckingham Palace confirming King Charles's relief that Trump and other guests were unharmed. British ambassador Christian Turner assured that all necessary security measures are in place. The visit has generated controversy due to the US leader’s war with Iran and Trump’s criticism of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Trump