The Nigerian Government has reaffirmed its partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to accelerate sustainable housing delivery and urban development initiatives across Nigeria.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqa Darma, made the commitment while receiving a delegation from UN-Habitat, led by the Director of its Regional Office for Africa, Mr Oumar Sylla, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Darma praised the agency for its sustained technical assistance to the Ministry and various state governments, particularly its role in the review of Nigeria’s National Urban Development Policy.
He noted that effective urban renewal remains critical to improving living conditions, stimulating economic growth and addressing insecurity in urban centres. According to him, the Ministry is prioritising slum mapping and improved urban planning as part of its development agenda.
The Minister called for deeper cooperation with UN-Habitat in key areas, including affordable housing, sustainable urban planning, climate resilience, urban regeneration, capacity building and the implementation of the National Urban Development Policy.
He also expressed optimism that the organisation would continue to provide technical expertise, global best practices and strategic partnerships to support the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the housing and urban development sector.
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Addressing Nigeria’s outstanding financial commitment under the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Darma assured the delegation that the Ministry was working with the appropriate authorities to facilitate the release of the funds despite prevailing fiscal constraints.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to meeting its obligations and strengthening UN-Habitat’s presence in Nigeria, describing the organisation as a key development partner in efforts to expand access to quality housing and promote sustainable urban growth.
The Minister said he was confident that the collaboration would continue to deliver tangible benefits for Nigerians through improved housing, more resilient cities and inclusive urban development.
Earlier, the Director of UN-Habitat’s Regional Office for Africa, Mr Oumar Sylla, congratulated Darma on his appointment and described Nigeria as one of the organisation’s most important partners in promoting sustainable urbanisation on the continent.
Sylla outlined several ongoing UN-Habitat projects in Nigeria, including initiatives designed to improve access to affordable housing, strengthen land administration, support urban transformation, expand basic services and provide long-term solutions for internally displaced persons, particularly in the North-East.
He said the organisation had also expanded its collaboration with several state governments, including Niger, Yobe, Adamawa and Katsina, noting that recent engagements had produced encouraging outcomes. He commended the Katsina State Government for its commitment to development.
Sylla appealed for the Ministry’s continued support for UN-Habitat’s activities and urged the Federal Government to resolve the outstanding financial obligations under the Memorandum of Understanding to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the organisation’s Country Office in Nigeria.
He further encouraged Nigeria to participate in the forthcoming High-Level Political Forum in New York, describing the event as an important platform for advancing the country’s urban development agenda and strengthening international cooperation.
