President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday officially swore in Muttaqha Darma as the new Minister of Housing and Urban Development, charging him with driving the administration’s housing and urban renewal agenda at a critical time.
The brief inauguration ceremony took place at the State House in Abuja, following Darma’s confirmation by the Senate. He succeeds Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, who recently stepped down from the Federal Executive Council.
Describing the appointment as timely and crucial, President Tinubu urged the new minister to deploy his extensive experience to address the nation’s housing challenges. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President praised Darma’s track record and competence.
“You have a very rich and interesting background. As a leader, we need competent hands like yours… You are a fitting peg in the right position,” Tinubu said, while encouraging him to remain ready to serve the country in any capacity.
Darma, a seasoned scholar and development expert, brings a strong academic and administrative background to the role. He holds advanced degrees from institutions including the University of Liverpool, Atlantic International University, Bayero University Kano, and University of Benin. He is also affiliated with professional bodies such as the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
His previous roles include serving as Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund from 2008 to 2012, as well as commissioner positions in Katsina State.
Speaking shortly after his inauguration, Darma pledged to tackle Nigeria’s massive housing shortfall, estimated at about 20 million units and affecting over 100 million citizens. He emphasized innovation, strategic planning, and efficiency as key pillars of his approach.
“I am going to deliver to the best of my ability, and you will see changes in no time,” he assured, noting that performance would be judged by himself, his colleagues, the public, and ultimately, God.
Despite acknowledging the enormity of the challenge, Darma expressed confidence that reforms could yield results. He highlighted the financial burden of large-scale housing projects, noting that even a plan to build 15 million homes over a decade would require substantial resources.
The minister also pointed to systemic inefficiencies in government-led housing schemes, contrasting them with the success of private developers.
“In this country today, some of the richest people are estate owners and property developers… yet government-owned houses are being abandoned. There must be something wrong,” he said.
Darma stressed the need to address structural flaws in public housing delivery, promising a forward-looking strategy to make housing more accessible and efficient for Nigerians.
