President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a $500,000 payment to settle Nigeria’s outstanding financial obligations to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) for the 2022–2023 period.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Musa Dangiwa, announced this during the second meeting of the UN-Habitat 2024 Executive Board, which he chaired in Nairobi, Kenya. The announcement, detailed in a ministry statement released Thursday, confirmed that the contribution would directly support the operations of the UN-Habitat Country Office in Nigeria.
“This funding will strengthen Nigeria’s partnership with UN-Habitat, enhancing capacity-building, advisory services, and multi-bilateral fund mobilization efforts to drive sustainable urbanization and housing development,” Dangiwa said.
He emphasized the importance of the financial commitment under the 2022–2027 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and UN-Habitat. This partnership focuses on addressing critical urbanization challenges, fostering sustainable housing development, and improving infrastructure through national and international collaboration.
UN-Habitat Commends Nigeria’s Leadership
UN-Habitat’s Executive Director, Ms. Anaclaudia Rossbach, commended Nigeria’s commitment to transformative urban development initiatives. During her remarks at the meeting, she highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in advancing UN-Habitat’s mandate and expressed gratitude for the approved contribution.
“I greatly appreciate Nigeria’s dedication, exemplified by the Chair of the Executive Board, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, in advancing UN-Habitat’s mission. This funding reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to our partnership and will enhance the operations of the UN-Habitat Country Office in Nigeria, providing vital support for the country’s housing and urban development goals,” Rossbach said.
Strengthening Bilateral Collaboration
The statement also underscored Nigeria’s progress under its current role as Chair of the UN-Habitat Executive Board. Achievements include the evaluation of Assembly resolutions, review of the organization’s work plan and budget, and advancement of the 2026–2029 strategic plan.
Dangiwa reiterated the importance of Nigeria’s bilateral collaborations with global institutions like UN-Habitat in achieving the housing and urban development objectives outlined in the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This contribution reflects Nigeria’s steadfast dedication to fostering sustainable development and addressing the urbanization challenges facing our nation,” he stated.
The $500,000 contribution not only underscores Nigeria’s leadership role in global urban development initiatives but also signals the nation’s commitment to leveraging international partnerships to enhance local capacity and improve the quality of life for its citizens.
