Nigeria has emerged as the chair of the executive board of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
The confirmation of Nigeria as chair of the board was made known during a meeting with the UN-Habitat office and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in Abuja on Thursday.
The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, has on behalf of the Nigerian Government and the Housing Ministry accepted the position, assuring that Nigeria would accomplish the mission.
Gwarzo lauded the UN-Habitat and the African Group for the confidence reposed in Nigeria’s quality leadership caused by her continuous commitment and exemplary role in the implementation of the African Urban Agenda (AUA) and the 2030 Agenda in the continent, assuring Nigeria’s commitment towards the achievement of the mandate of UN-Habitat.
The minister was delighted to acknowledge a notable milestone achieved in the human settlement sector in Nigeria since the establishment of the UN-Habitat Program support office in 2003, saying that it was the result of the robust collaboration between the UN-Habitat and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Gwarzo also reiterated the commitment of the ministry to execute its primary mandate of providing affordable housing in a secure, healthy and decent environment of both urban and rural areas for Nigerians, saying that the partnership with the UN-Habitat would ensure achieving the maximum results.
The minister also revealed the intention of the Ministry of Housing to actualize its mandate through multi-stakeholder and institutional engagements as well as effective collaborations.
Gwarzo further expressed hope that the continuous funding support for the UN-Habitat Programme Support Office (UN-HAPSO) in Nigeria would further strengthen the existing cordial relationship between the two parties and as well reposition the office to adequately play its role of rendering technical support services to Housing and Urban Development sector stakeholders in the country both at the National and sub-national levels.
Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the UN-Habitat delegation, Mathias Spaliviero, felicitated the minister for the appointment of Nigeria as the chair of the executive board of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and formally presented the appointment letter to the Minister of State.
Spaliviero explained that the executive board is a board that comprises 40-50 member states, saddled with making decisions, accessing UN-Habitat progress according to the strategic plan, as well as making recommendations.
Spaliviero disclosed that UN-Habitat provided technical support for the National Urban Development Policy and also expressed commitment to further support until the policy is approved.
He used the opportunity to invite the Honorable Minister to the World Urban Forum to take place in Cairo between the 4th and 8th of November, 2024.
