Lagos demolishes more than 50 illegal structures in the Lekki-Agungi area, Alh Dangiwa Promotes Adoption of Climate-smart Housing and more...
Alh Dangiwa Promotes Adoption of Climate-smart Housing
Ahmed Dangiwa, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, has urged the adoption of environmentally friendly, sustainable, and climate-smart housing designs within Nigeria’s housing sector. Speaking at the 2024 Archibuilt Exposition, hosted by the Nigerian Institute of Architects in Abuja, he encouraged professionals to embrace innovative and sustainable approaches to meet the country's housing demands.
In his address, Dangiwa stressed the importance of focusing on green and resource-efficient solutions, highlighting how previous expositions had showcased transformative ideas such as sustainable building materials, energy-efficient designs, water conservation, and zero-emission construction technologies.
“The ongoing discussions will shape Nigeria’s future in construction and have a global impact. What we need is innovation grounded in technology and equitable use of resources,” Dangiwa said.
He emphasized the key role of architects in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on creating sustainable cities and communities. He noted that architects have the unique ability to design urban spaces that are inclusive, resilient, and adaptable.
“We must ask ourselves: How can we ensure that the cities we build are not only environmentally sustainable but also socially equitable? How do we create urban ecosystems that promote health, economic growth, and environmental stewardship?” Dangiwa posed.
He also addressed the challenges posed by rapid rural-urban migration and Africa’s growing population, pointing out the strain on infrastructure. “African nations, including Nigeria, which is expected to exceed 400 million people by 2050, must find ways to respond to the pressures of migration and population growth,” Dangiwa said.
Nigeria and World Bank to Collaborate on Land Reforms and Affordable Housing for Sustainable Urban Development
In a significant move towards addressing Nigeria's urban challenges, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has announced a new partnership with the World Bank Group. This collaboration is set to tackle land administration bottlenecks, affordable housing, and urban resilience initiatives.
Earlier today, the Minister of Works and Housing hosted a delegation from the World Bank, led by Vice President for Infrastructure, Mr. Guangzhe Chen. The delegation also included key figures such as the World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Ndiame Diop, and Senior Urban Development Specialist, Fuad Malkawi. The discussions centered around Nigeria’s ongoing urban challenges and strategies to improve land registration and housing delivery.
A key outcome of the meeting was the agreement to collaborate on improving Nigeria's land titling and registration system. Currently, only 10% of land in Nigeria is titled, a statistic the Ministry aims to increase to 50% over the next five years. The National Land Registration and Titling Programme, in collaboration with state governments, is expected to be a critical tool in achieving this goal. This initiative is projected to unlock over $300 billion in untapped capital tied up in unregistered land assets.
Lagos demolishes more than 50 illegal structures in the Lekki-Agungi area
In a targeted operation on Friday morning, the Lagos State Taskforce demolished over 50 illegal structures, including shanties and makeshift buildings, along Agungi Ajiran Road in the Lekki area of the state.
Addressing the media at the scene, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Adetayo Akerele, who leads the taskforce, emphasized that the action was part of broader efforts to restore order and cleanliness in various parts of the city, in alignment with the State Government’s THEMES PLUS Agenda.
Akerele revealed that the occupants of these illegal structures had been served eviction notices two weeks prior but had refused to comply.
He added, "Residents have long complained about the rising illegal activities within the shanties, which have led to environmental degradation, security risks, and a disruption of the community’s peace."