Housing Minister Darma Inaugurates 14-Member Committee to Drive Nigeria Housing Sector Reforms
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engineer Muttaqa Darma, has inaugurated a 14-member Ministerial Committee on the Implementation Framework for Validated Stakeholder Resolutions on Housing Sector Reforms.
The committee was inaugurated on Friday, September 11, 2026 in Abuja. It is chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore. Members were drawn from the ministry’s technical departments and relevant agencies.
Darma said the committee is tasked with turning stakeholder recommendations into concrete action for Nigeria’s built environment sector.
Terms of reference for the committee include driving and coordinating the implementation of reform measures in the Implementation Framework. The committee will also develop a detailed work plan with priority actions, timelines and deliverables, and monitor progress to ensure actions are delivered within approved timelines.
Speaking at the event, the Minister recalled that stakeholders had earlier met at a validation conference to review housing deficit data compiled by the ministry and to set a policy direction for transforming the sector.
He said the workshop produced recommendations grouped into three categories. The first category covers actions the ministry can implement immediately. The second requires approval from the Presidential Council. The third will require legislative action.
Darma stated that the ministry’s core mandate is to house Nigerians directly or create the enabling environment for citizens to house themselves. He added that there is need to strengthen regulation of the built environment so it can contribute more to the national economy.
Citing 2025 data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the Minister noted that the housing and construction sector currently contributes about 17 percent to Nigeria’s economy. He compared this to between 22 and 27 percent in similar economies such as South Africa and Kenya. He expressed confidence that with the right reforms, Nigeria’s housing sector can close the gap and become a major driver of economic growth.
The Minister gave the committee six weeks to deliver a robust implementation strategy. He charged members to work diligently, noting they were carefully selected to lead the sector’s transformation.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Dr. Shuaib Belgore described the assignment as a privilege aimed at improving housing outcomes for Nigerians, standardising practice across the sector, and unlocking its potential contribution to GDP.
Belgore said the committee had already been given a working document which will be reviewed to identify gaps and refine it into an effective framework. He pledged the committee’s cooperation and loyalty to deliver within the six-week timeframe. He added that further stakeholder consultations will be held as the implementation framework takes shape to ensure wide support.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Shehu Usman Osidi, commended the Minister for the reform initiative. He said some proposals already align with steps the bank has taken.
Referencing past efforts to push through the National Housing Fund Act, FMBN Act and a N500 billion recapitalisation bid which stalled due to stakeholder pushback, Osidi stressed that effective stakeholder consultation will be critical to the success of the current reforms.
Why this matters
With housing deficit still a major challenge in Nigeria, the committee’s work is expected to provide a clear roadmap for reforms that can increase housing delivery, attract investment, and grow the sector’s contribution to the economy.
