By Adamu Aminu.
In Kano State this week, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttagha Rabe Darma PhD and the Minister of State, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, stepped onto the site of Renewed Hope City to do what they promised Nigerians they would do: see for themselves.
Their presence in Lambu, Tofa Local Government Area, on Monday was more than a routine visit. It was a direct check on the Federal Government’s pledge to close Nigeria’s housing gap through practical, deliverable projects. For both ministers, the task is clear. Policy must move from paper to brick and mortar, and from promises to keys in the hands of citizens.
The Renewed Hope City project in Kano is built on a Public-Private Partnership model, PPP. That framework places government responsibility side by side with private sector capacity.
During the inspection, Engr. Darma described the model as the most practical route to faster housing delivery at scale. He argued that when public oversight meets private efficiency, projects move quicker and serve more people. The arrangement, he said, shows how limited public resources can be stretched further when aligned with private investment.
This visit forms part of a nationwide tour of housing sites under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Engr. Darma made a pledge at the PPP Housing Summit 2.0 in Abuja: he would personally inspect more than 15,000 housing units under construction across the country.
The tours, he explained, are designed for three things. First, to measure real progress against timelines. Second, to identify bottlenecks before they stall delivery. Third, to insist on quality so that Nigerians receive homes that last.
“The essence of these inspections is simple,” Engr. Darma said on site. “We must ensure projects move as planned so Nigerians can benefit from these housing initiatives quickly. We are committed to removing bottlenecks and ensuring timely completion.” That statement sets the tone of the ministry’s current approach: less rhetoric, more verification.
Minister Ata stood with him as they walked through the 1,500-unit development.
Both men stressed that housing is not an isolated good. When a city of this size rises, it pulls other sectors with it. At Lambu, artisans are working, contractors are engaged, suppliers are moving materials, transport operators are busy, and small businesses around the site are seeing new customers. The project is already functioning as an economic engine before the first family moves in.
Engr. Darma put it plainly: “Its impact extends beyond the housing units. It is creating jobs, supporting local businesses, attracting investment, and contributing to the area’s socio-economic development.” Once completed, Renewed Hope City will house more than 6,000 residents. The plan goes beyond shelter. The ministers spoke of decent, affordable homes set within a secure and sustainable community.
That means attention to roads, drainage, water, power, and communal spaces. The goal is better living standards, not just four walls and a roof.
Satisfied with the pace and quality of work observed, both ministers urged all stakeholders to hold the line on delivery targets. They were direct in their message: commitment must be matched by consistency. Delays cost money and erode public trust.
They also restated the Federal Government’s resolve to expand the financing tools available for housing. New partnerships are being explored, and existing ones are being tightened.
The aim is to broaden access to affordable housing, strengthen urban infrastructure, and promote development that includes low and middle-income Nigerians.
Kano’s Renewed Hope City is one of several flagship projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Together, they reflect a deliberate shift. The government is choosing to confront the housing challenge with projects that can be counted, communities that can be lived in, and outcomes that can be measured.
For the people of Lambu and Tofa, the visit signals something important. The ministers are not managing housing from a distance.
They are confronting the reality on the ground, and in doing so, they are keeping faith with the promise made to Nigerians.
Adamu Aminu,
SA Media to the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, writes from Kano..
