Outgoing Minister of Housing and Urban Development Ahmed Dangiwa formally handed over the mantle of leadership to the Minister of State in the ministry, Yusuf Ata, in an emotionally charged ceremony that drew tributes from colleagues, staff, and stakeholders across Nigeria’s built environment sector.
Dangiwa expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the confidence he had placed in him to serve at the ministerial level, describing the opportunity to contribute to the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in advancing access to affordable housing and strengthening urban development frameworks, as one of the greatest honours of his public service journey.
He also expressed special appreciation to Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda for his invaluable support, encouragement, and steadfast belief in his capacity to serve at the national level. To the permanent secretary, management, and the entire staff of the ministry, Dangiwa expressed heartfelt appreciation for the professionalism, dedication, and resilience the team had shown throughout his tenure.
“Your unwavering commitment to duty, even in the face of challenges, made our collective achievements possible. I am equally grateful to my team of aides, whose loyalty, diligence, and behind-the-scenes efforts ensured that the work of the office was carried out efficiently and effectively,” he remarked.
He acknowledged the invaluable partnership of stakeholders across the built environment, including professionals, developers, institutions, and collaborators whose cooperation and shared vision had been critical in driving reforms and delivering on the ministry’s mandate.
Dangiwa extended best wishes to the incoming minister, whom he described as a seasoned technocrat and engineer, urging staff and stakeholders to accord him the same level of cooperation and support he had been privileged to receive, expressing confidence that even greater strides would be achieved in the housing and urban development sector under new leadership.
In his remarks, the Minister of State, Ata, commended the outgoing minister for his vision, leadership, and professionalism, reaffirming his continued commitment to the ministry’s programmes and assuring that he would remain available for collaboration in support of ongoing reforms.
Permanent Secretary Dr. Shuaib Belgore lauded the outgoing minister for the wealth of experience he brought to the sector, which he said had resulted in significant strides in urban renewal initiatives, development of manufacturing hubs, and advancement of housing data systems, noting that Dangiwa’s expertise had re-aligned the ministry toward achieving its primary mandate of providing affordable housing to Nigerians.
