By Wellington Jopelo
Efforts to tackle Nigeria’s growing housing crisis received a boost on Thursday as the Senate approved the appointment of Muttaqha Darma as a minister under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The confirmation followed Darma’s screening at plenary, where lawmakers assessed his competence, policy ideas and readiness to address challenges in the housing sector. His approval signals renewed focus on fixing the country’s widening housing gap.
During the session, Darma outlined plans to improve access to affordable homes, especially for low- and middle-income Nigerians, while promising stronger collaboration with the National Assembly to drive reforms.
He stressed that weak leadership and poor coordination have slowed progress in housing delivery, adding that his priority would be to strengthen institutions and improve governance within the sector.
Darma revealed that millions of Nigerians are currently affected by inadequate housing, describing the situation as urgent and requiring deliberate policy action to reverse the trend.
He also pledged to encourage private sector participation, noting that government alone cannot meet the rising demand for housing across major cities.
Responding to questions from lawmakers including Adams Oshiomhole, the nominee expressed confidence that the housing deficit could be reduced through practical reforms and consistent policy implementation.
Drawing on his experience as former Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, he assured senators of his capacity to deliver measurable results if given the opportunity.
Beyond housing, Darma linked infrastructure development to national security, stating that safer communities are necessary for sustainable urban growth.
He further promised to prioritise proper urban planning, including efforts to restore the Abuja master plan where necessary.
His confirmation came after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read President Tinubu’s request and referred it for consideration by the Committee of the Whole.
With his approval now secured, expectations are high that the new minister will help drive long-awaited reforms in Nigeria’s housing and urban development sector.