The Nigerian government has reiterated it’s commitment to partner with the United Nations, UN-Habitat in promoting transformative change in upgrading urban settlements, to assist the poor, through knowledge, policies and technical assistance.

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola gave this assurance at an event in Abuja, the nation’s capital in commemoration of the 2022 World Habitat Day with the theme: Mind the Gap. Leave No One and Place Behind.

Fashola said To bridge the poverty and inequality gaps through the implementation of ministerial mandates, the Urban Renewal and Slum upgrading programme have been introduced by the Ministry of Works and Housing to collaborate with Private Sectors to create over 4,000 direct jobs for Nigerian Youths through 33 Projects in several Nigerian cities which started January, 2021 to June, 2022.

According to the him, these capital projects includes Construction and rehabilitation of roads, culverts and drains, also  provision of portable water through local borehole supply systems and provision of solar powered street-lights and provision of storm-water drainage channels.

UN, representative, Mr. Akun Ola, reading out the UN Secretary Genera’s goodwill message for World Habitat Day, calls for a collaborative effort to make the issues of urban poverty and inequality a realisation.

House of Representative Committee on Housing and Urban Development in Nigeria, Mr. Bala Yusuf reaffirmed government’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs adding that Nigeria is determined to transform agenda.