Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Housing Minister, Engr Muttaqha Rabe Darma, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to working with relevant government institutions, development partners, professional bodies and other stakeholders to deliver on the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda. This was contained in a statement signed by Badamasi S. Haiba, Fsca, mnipr, Director, Information and Public Relations.
The Minister spoke when he received the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Hon Justice Babatunde Adeniran Adejumo, OFR, during a courtesy visit to his office.
Engr Darma, welcomed the proposed collaboration with the Judicial Institute and assured the delegation that the Judiciary would be carried along in the implementation of the Federal Government’s ongoing housing initiatives.
He stated that the Ministry was working tirelessly to address Nigeria’s housing deficit, estimated at about Fifteen million housing units, acknowledging that closing the gap remains a huge national responsibility.
According to him, although the scale of the housing challenge is enormous, it is achievable through sustained commitment, effective partnerships, strategic planning and collective efforts by government institutions and other relevant stakeholders.
Engr. Darma stated that: “No matter how big and large the task ahead is, it is possible to bridge the gap.”»
He assured the National Judicial Institute that the Judiciary would be part of the Ministry’s ongoing housing projects across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, stressing that judicial officers and court personnel would not be left out of the Federal Government’s housing interventions.
The Minister further explained that the Ministry’s housing initiatives are being implemented with a broad national outlook, covering different locations and levels of government, including the States and Local Government Areas.
He noted that the Ministry recognises the importance of providing decent and affordable accommodation for Nigerians and would continue to explore partnerships and institutional collaborations capable of supporting the achievement of the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.
The Minister commended the leadership of the National Judicial Institute for demonstrating concern for the welfare of its personnel and for seeking opportunities that could improve their living conditions.
He particularly appreciated the Institute’s interest in ensuring that its staff are carried along in the broader national development agenda, describing the initiative as a demonstration of responsible institutional leadership.
He also stressed that addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit requires a collective and coordinated approach, adding that no single institution can resolve the challenge in isolation.
Speaking earlier, the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Hon. Justice Babatunde Adeniran Adejumo, OFR, commended the Ministry for its efforts towards addressing the nation’s housing deficit.
He expressed the readiness of the NJI to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in advancing the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda, particularly in the areas of human capacity development, training and institutional support.
He explained that the National Judicial Institute has conference facilities and other resources that could be utilised for relevant training programmes.
Accordingly, Justice Adejumo stated that, the proposed collaboration with the Housing ministry is expected to strengthen institutional cooperation between the two organisations while providing opportunities for capacity building, knowledge sharing and professional development in support of the housing programmes.
” The National Judicial Institute is saddled with the responsibility of providing training, capacity building and continuing education for judicial officers and court personnel” he stated
He pointed out that any collaboration would be undertaken legitimately and in accordance with the law, without compromising the independence, integrity or constitutional responsibilities of the Judiciary. It also emphasised that the partnership would be structured within the respective mandates of both institutions.
” The Institute is willing to collaborate with the Ministry in whatever legitimate and lawful manner that could contribute to the success of its programmes” he added
He appealed to the Minister to give due consideration to the Judiciary in the allocation of houses, noting that judicial officers and court personnel also have housing needs that should be accommodated within the Federal Government’s broader housing interventions.
” The collaboration could also create opportunities for the two institutions to share expertise and develop capacity-building programmes relevant to the effective implementation of housing policies and programmes” he stated
The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development remains committed to implementing policies and programmes that will expand access to decent, safe and affordable housing for Nigerians and contribute to the realisation of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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