Dangiwa Urges FMBN to Lead New Era of Mass Housing in Nigeria

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has called on the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to rapidly reform and innovate towards meeting Nigeria’s housing shortfall through the delivery of affordable, decent and quality housing to Nigerians.

 Dangiwa spoke at the 2024 management retreat of FMBN, which was held at the Royal Institute for Training & Human Capital Development (Zuma Rock), Niger State from 7 to 9 February 2024, according to a statement from the Special Adviser to the Minister, Mark Chieshe.

Reflecting on his tenure as chief executive of the FMBN between 2017 and 2022, the minister said his current position is an opportunity for him to ensure that the bank gets the necessary support that it needs to deliver on its mandate to house Nigerians.

“I am also inclined to view this transition not as a matter of chance but part of a grand plan to ensure that FMBN gets all the necessary support that it requires at the highest levels possible to deliver maximally and optimally on its mandate to Nigerians,” he said.

He challenged FMBN’s management and staff to surpass previous achievements, emphasising the importance of quality customer service and problem-solving attitude.

Recognising the fundamental challenges facing FMBN, the minister cited the inauguration of the housing institutions’ reform task teams to optimise housing agencies’ effectiveness.

These reforms, he said, include legislative amendments to vital housing industry laws, aimed at enhancing the provision of quality, decent, and affordable homes to Nigerians.

Furthermore, the minister emphasised collaboration through the multi-agency project delivery task team, fostering synergy among housing agencies to increase the national housing stock.