In an effort to address the escalating cost of cement and other building materials and to bolster the provision of affordable housing in Nigeria, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has initiated a meeting with manufacturers of cement and building materials in the country.
The primary objective of this meeting is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges within the sector, formulate effective measures to counter the upward trajectory of building material costs, and explore sustainable solutions to alleviate these challenges.
Expressing concern over the persistently high costs of building materials, despite the abundance of raw materials in Nigeria, Minister Dangiwa particularly questioned the recurring and disproportionate increases in the price of cement.
Notably, he emphasized that cement producers in the country predominantly source their raw materials locally.
During a courtesy call by a delegation comprising the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, Minister Dangiwa discussed the progress of the collaboration between the FMBN and labor centers.
This collaboration, especially pertaining to the National Affordable Housing Delivery Programme for Nigerian Workers, was initiated during his tenure as the Managing Director of the FMBN.
Assuring the delegation, Dangiwa reaffirmed the commitment of the administration to providing decent and affordable housing, along with liveable communities for low- and medium-income earners, as well as vulnerable individuals in society.
This initiative aligns with the broader goal of addressing housing challenges and enhancing accessibility to affordable housing options in Nigeria.