Ahmed Dangiwa, a ministerial nominee from Katsina state, has shared his thoughts on how Nigeria can solve its housing deficits.
Dangiwa, a former managing director at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, shared his thoughts while addressing the Nigerian Senate.
Due to his background as a trained architect, Dangiwa is rumoured to be heading to the housing ministry.
He said data collection to establish the number of Nigerians without homes needs to be more accurate.
The nominee pledged to employ data collection consultants to obtain the exact number of housing deficits for an informed approach to addressing the issue.
His words: ”The most crucial aspect is the house itself. We need as many houses as possible, so we need massive investment in the housing industry.
”We can only do that through liberalizing the cash reserve domiciled in CBN. The cash reserve will be invested (in the form of loans) into housing development through the Federal Housing Authority or Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria as obligors (to CBN).
”At the same time, they process and give Nigerians mortgages at affordable and favourable conditions.
”The pension act will be reviewed to allow mortgage institutions access to the pension reserve at agreed terms for mortgage institutions to use and build affordable homes for Nigerians.”
He also canvassed for establishing more cluster homes at single-digit rates for low and medium-income earners to own affordable homes through stakeholder engagement and widening the National Housing Fund net to the informal sector.
Dangiwa promised to fast-track and improve the 5-year strategic roadmap he launched as head of the mortgage bank to ensure strategic and goal-driven implementation.
He added:
”Diaspora Nigerians who usually send money for family and friends to build houses in the village only for them to land in Nigeria to empty lands or even no lands are also under consideration.
”No more heart attacks on coming back home without a home. No more spoiling relationships because of plots of land.
”All you need is a stable income in your country of residence and send in your application. Upon approval, you will get your house keys and start paying until the home is yours.”