The Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of Muttaqha Darma as the Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, following his screening by lawmakers in plenary.
Darma, nominated by President Bola Tinubu, was cleared after responding to questions on his competence, policy direction and plans to tackle Nigeria’s housing crisis.
During the screening, the minister-designate pledged to work closely with the National Assembly to address the country’s huge housing deficit, outlining reforms aimed at improving leadership, expanding access to affordable housing and strengthening institutions in the sector.
According to him, his approach would focus on bridging what he described as a leadership gap that has hindered effective housing delivery across the country.
He emphasised that collaboration with lawmakers would be key to eliminating longstanding challenges in the housing sector.
“We will work together with the National Assembly to ensure that the challenge of housing is addressed,” he said..
Darma noted that more than 100 million Nigerians are affected by inadequate housing and underscored the need to make homes more accessible and affordable, particularly for low- and middle-income earners.
The nominee also pointed to the role of governance and accountability in improving outcomes, stating that reforms would target both public institutions and private sector participation in real estate development.
Reacting to some posers raised by Adams Oshiomhole, he acknowledged the scale of the housing deficit but expressed optimism that it could be tackled with the right policies.
“I believe everything is possible. I will do everything within my capacity to close the gaps and improve the situation,” he said.
Drawing from his experience as former Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Darma assured lawmakers that he would reposition the ministry to deliver measurable results.
On the issue of insecurity, he added that he would contribute to efforts aimed at stabilising communities, stressing that safety is essential for sustainable housing development.
He also addressed concerns about urban planning in the Federal Capital Territory, assuring senators that restoring Abuja’s master plan would receive due attention.
The confirmation followed the Senate’s earlier screening of the nominee on Thursday after Tinubu formally requested his approval.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, had read the President’s letter during plenary and referred it to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.
Darma, a trained engineer with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bayero University Kano, is expected to bring technical expertise to a ministry central to addressing Nigeria’s widening housing deficit and urban infrastructure challenges.
His nomination had drawn attention due to his political history. As deputy governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party in the 2023 elections, he was expelled after endorsing the All Progressives Congress candidate, Dikko Radda, at what the party described as an unauthorised meeting.
Despite the controversy, his confirmation is seen as part of the administration’s broader effort to deploy technocrats to key infrastructure sectors, particularly housing, where demand continues to outstrip supply across major urban centres.
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