President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administered the oath of office to Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma on Friday as Nigeria’s new minister of housing and urban development, following the recent resignation of his predecessor, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa.
The brief ceremony at the State House came after Darma secured Senate clearance to assume the ministerial post representing Katsina State.
President Tinubu, speaking at the event, acknowledged the timing of the appointment, telling Darma he was joining the administration at a “very challenging time of national development.”
“You have a very rich and interesting background,” the President said. “As a leader, we need competent hands like yours.”
The President further noted that Darma had “rendered valuable services in all the assignments you have embarked upon,” adding that he was “a fitting peg in the right position.” Tinubu also instructed the new minister to be prepared to serve in any capacity in which he is called upon.
Dr. Darma brings substantial academic and administrative credentials to the role. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree from the University of Liverpool and a PhD in Industrial Engineering from Atlantic International University in the United States. His educational foundation includes a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bayero University, Kano, and a Master’s in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Benin.
His professional experience includes serving as Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund from 2008 to 2012, followed by positions as Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, and Commissioner for Rural and Social Development in Katsina State.
Darma has also lectured at Bayero University, Kano, and is a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Nigerian Institute of Management. He is a published author on governance and development issues. Prior to this appointment, he served as President of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Human Development Centre in Katsina.