The federal government on Thursday renewed its commitment to fulfilling her obligations to United Nations Habitat as contained in the extant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and contribution agreement.
Grassroots Parrot reports that the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations agency for human settlements mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.
Available data shows that in 1991, Nigeria’s housing deficit was 7 million. It rose to 12 million units in 2007; 14 million in 2010; 20 million in 2018, and in 2023, Nigeria now has an estimated 28 million housing deficit.
However, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo said the federal government is committed to bridge the gap.
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He made this disclosure in Abuja when he received the Portfolio Manager for West Africa in UN-Habitat Mr. Mathias Spaliviero, who paid him a courtesy visit to the ministry.
Gwarzo expressed delight for the notable milestone achievements in the Human Settlement sector in Nigeria since establishment of the UN-Habitat Programme Support Office (UNHAPSO) in 2023.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Adamu Abdullah and made available to Grassroots Parrot quoted the minister as explaining that Nigeria found a veritable ally in country’s quest to provide adequate and affordable housing in both urban and rural areas.
He reiterated the commitment of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in securing, healthy, and decent environments for all Nigerians as one of the cardinal focuses of the administration.
He also sought more collaboration between the ministry and UN-Habitat as critical partners realising the vision of President Bola Ahmad Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Housing and Urban Development in Nigeria.
He assured the portfolio manager that the ministry is making concerted effort towards ensuring that the arrears of 2022 and 2023 contributions amounting to USD500, 000 is paid as soon as possible.
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In his earlier remarks, the team leader and Portfolio Manager for West in UN-Habìtat, Mr. Mathias Spaliviero has told the minister that they were at the ministry to strengthen the relationship between the ministry and UN-Habitat.
Mr. Spaliviero informed the minister that UN-Habitat has a long tradition of collaboration with Nigeria, saying it was involved in water and sanitation programmes in different parts of the country.
He said “Nigeria is the current chair of the executive board of the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat.
Responding to the statement, Gwarzo expressed delight and assured the programme manager that Nigeria will accomplish assignments.