The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, charging him with the urgent task of bridging Nigeria’s massive housing deficit, reviving abandoned housing schemes across the country, and restoring order to urban planning, particularly within the Federal Capital Territory.
The confirmation followed an extensive screening session during which lawmakers subjected the nominee to detailed questions on housing policy, financing mechanisms, urban development frameworks, and national security considerations, with senators from across party lines pressing Darma on concrete plans to address challenges that affected tens of millions of Nigerian citizens.
Moving the motion for confirmation, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele urged the chamber to approve President Bola Tinubu’s request in line with Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. The Senate subsequently resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the nomination.
Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno described the housing ministry as critical to national development, noting that shelter remained a fundamental human necessity and challenging the nominee to outline a concrete strategy for bridging the housing gap while mitigating rural-urban migration.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole raised concerns about the underutilisation of pension funds, which he described as a potentially transformative source of housing finance. He urged the nominee to develop a robust mortgage system that would allow pension contributors to own homes before reaching retirement age, arguing that these funds represented the social capital of Nigerian workers and should be put to productive use.
Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua vouched for Darma’s competence and integrity, noting that the nominee had been mentored by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and had a strong track record in public service. Senators from Katsina State, he said, unanimously supported the nomination.
Senator Mohammed Aliero broadened the discussion to national security, asking the nominee to outline how he would contribute to addressing insecurity and banditry at the Federal Executive Council level, a question that reflected the Senate’s recognition of the interconnection between poverty, inadequate housing, and social instability.
Responding, Darma acknowledged the enormity of Nigeria’s housing challenges and pledged to pursue policies that would improve affordability and access, stressing that strong leadership, innovative financing, and inter-agency collaboration were essential to meaningful progress. On pension funds, he committed to working with relevant institutions to ensure available resources, including pension contributions, were better utilised to support housing development.
He also highlighted past achievements during his tenure as Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, where he implemented reforms that repositioned the agency, and pledged to bring the same commitment and discipline to the housing ministry.
Senator Babangida Hussaini urged the nominee to harmonise various housing schemes initiated by successive administrations, many of which remained incomplete or unoccupied and were actively deteriorating. Senator Garba Musa Maidoki raised concerns about distortions in the Abuja Master Plan, citing widespread conversion of residential buildings to commercial use and encroachment on green areas and infrastructure corridors.
Following the screening, the Senate put the nomination to a voice vote, with the majority of lawmakers supporting confirmation. Senate President Godswill Akpabio congratulated Darma and urged him to justify the confidence placed in him, reminding the new minister that Nigerians expected concrete and visible results, particularly in a sector where challenges were both acute and long-standing.
