The United Nations Habitat (UN-Habitat) has revealed ongoing discussions with the European Union to secure a €10 million grant for urban renewal projects in Northern Nigeria. These projects aim to address critical gaps in infrastructure, housing, and essential services.
This initiative is part of UN-Habitat’s broader mission to promote sustainable urbanization in the region. The announcement was made by Ms. Anaclaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, during the 2024 UN-Habitat Executive Board Meeting in Nairobi. The update was also highlighted in a statement published on the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development’s official website on Friday.
Ms. Rossbach emphasized that UN-Habitat is also collaborating with the World Bank and Ekiti State to enhance urban planning and attract investments. “UN-Habitat is negotiating a €10 million grant with the European Union for urban integration projects in Northern Nigeria, alongside other partnerships with the World Bank and Ekiti State for urban planning and investment,” the statement read.
Additionally, Ms. Rossbach disclosed plans for a high-level UN-Habitat visit to Nigeria in 2025. This visit will align with the launch of a significant urban intervention program aimed at fostering stronger collaboration with local stakeholders and overseeing transformative urban development initiatives.
The statement also shed light on the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to address Nigeria’s severe housing challenges. Speaking at the same event in Nairobi, Arc. Musa Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, highlighted that over 75% of the nation’s 42 million housing units are substandard, with nearly half of the population living in informal settlements.
To combat these issues, the Federal Government has introduced the National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade Programme (NURSUP). This initiative has completed projects at 54 sites nationwide, with 56 additional projects underway. Key areas of focus include:
– Enhancing critical infrastructure such as water supply and drainage systems.
– Installing solar-powered streetlights.
– Developing access roads and waste management solutions.
Strengthening Partnerships
The Minister underscored the importance of partnerships with international organizations like UN-Habitat to scale up these initiatives and ensure sustainable urban development. In support of these collaborations, President Bola Tinubu recently approved a $500,000 payment to clear Nigeria’s outstanding obligations to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme for the 2022–2023 period. This payment forms part of Nigeria’s financial commitment under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UN-Habitat and will help fund the operations of the UN-Habitat Country Office in Nigeria.
These developments signal a significant step forward in addressing Nigeria’s urban challenges while fostering international cooperation to achieve sustainable growth.
