By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has commended the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) over its housing programmes targeted at providing affordable quality housing for Nigerians at both the urban and rural levels.
The Minister disclosed his position when a delegation of REDAN led by its President, Alhaji Aliyu Wammako, paid him a visit in his office, a statement signed by the Deputy Director (Information), Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Salisu Badamasi, and made available to SUMMIT POST NEWS, said.
Arc. Dangiwa expressed delight at the association’s Rural Urban Housing Initiative (RUHI), a project aimed at building at least 100 housing units in 774 local governments areas (LGAs) of the country.
He promised REDAN of active participation of the ministry when the project would be ready for launching.
On Redan Estate Development Bill, the Minister noted that it was essential because it would regulate real estate development in the country, assuring the association that he would study the bill and follow up for it to be assented to by President Bola Tinubu.
“With this bill, I am sure the country will be better off with and there is no ministry to benefit from it better than the ministry of Housing and Urban Development,” he said.
Applauding the Association for seeking loan from Shelter Afrique to actualise their plan on RUHI, the minister explained that Nigeria was the second largest investor in the financial institution but has not benefitted much from it, adding that the engagement between the Association and Shelter Afrique would create an avenue to leverage it’s actualisation.
“As a Minister, I will lead that crusade to ensure you get the necessary support from Shelter Afrique as long as you meet the requirement,” he promised.
Speaking earlier, the President of REDAN and leader of the delegation, Alhaji Aliyu Wammako, informed the minister that the association had developed and executed a comprehensive business plan for RUHI -774.
Alhaji Wammako disclosed that twenty -nine estate development loan applications of their members have been submitted to Shelter Afrique as part of measures to execute the project.
He appealed to the Minister to prevail on Shelter Afrique to process the loans for his members and facilitate President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s assent to the Real Estate Bill in order to ensure effective regulation of real estate business in the country, assuring the Minister of their support towards hitch-free development of the housing sector and national economy in general.