For an urban renewal and new city project, FG wants to work with UN-Habitat

To help with its Urban Renewal, Slum Upgrading, and New City Development Project, the Federal Government has asked UN-Habitat for cooperation.

The request was made by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa, when Mr. Oumar Sylla, Director of UN-Habitat’s African office, based in Nairobi, paid him a visit on Friday in Abuja.

According to Dangiwa, the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration of Sustainable and Urban Development is totally in line with UN-Habitat’s objective, which is “a better quality of life for all in an urbanising world.”

Therefore, as a ministry, we have a plan to expand all Nigerians’ access to adequate, high-quality, and affordable housing.

“This comprises 80% of the society’s low- and middle-income groups.

“I am pleased with your Strategic Plan for the years 2020–2023 for this reason. I see multiple instances where the Renewed Hope Agenda of our government and mine connect,” he said.

Dangiwa asked UN-Habitat to keep providing technical assistance to the ministry, which serves as the focal point for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 11, which focuses on creating safe and sustainable towns and communities.

According to him, “We will like to seek UN-Habitat collaboration in advancing the SDGs and helping us to mobilise multilateral funding for our Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrading Projects and New City Development Project.”

The minister reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to upholding its duties to the director of UN-Habitat.

“We have started the procedure for our nation to pay its required contribution to UN-Habitat; this was postponed due to the change in the country’s administration.

“We are confident that the UN-Habitat Support Office (UN-HAPSO) in Nigeria would be repositioned by ongoing financial support to effectively fulfil its mandate of offering technical support services to housing stakeholders in our nation.

In order for the activities and projects outlined in the future work plan to be in line with the priorities of the current administration, Dangiwa said, “We would like to have a series of engagements with UN-Habitat.”

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He expressed hope that the trip would result in a more fruitful collaboration between the ministry and UN-Habitat, one that would represent the goal, which included a decrease in spatial inequality and community poverty.

Earlier, Sylla, the delegation’s head from UN-Habitat, congratulated the minister on his appointment and promised the organisation will work with the government to make urban development a reality.

“In many areas and at the continental level, we have a long-standing collaboration with Nigeria.

“We have advocated for sustainable urbanisation, and Nigeria has backed the creation of the new urban agenda, which serves as the framework for accelerating the SDGs.

“At the national level, we are working to support the revision of National Housing Policy and National Urban Policy, and we are assisting member states in planning to anticipate growth, where UN-Habitat is bringing its expertise,” he said.

According to Sylla, the group was working in several states on the subject of basic services and supported numerous states, including Yobe, in their efforts to provide water and sanitation, particularly during COVID 19.

Now that there is a new administration and a new vision, we are here to determine how we can begin this partnership between UN-habitat and the Nigerian government.

“We are pleased to see urbanisation as one of the government’s top priorities, where UN-Habitat can make some valuable contributions to ensure that cities provide better lives for all residents.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the UN-habitat is the top organisation for human settlement and urbanisation and supports member states in preparation for urban growth.

Additionally, the organisation helps member nations make sure that cities are livable and vibrant for economic change.