Government to Upgrade Makoko and Gishiri Slums in Lagos and Abuja

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, reiterated the federal government’s pledge to transform Nigeria’s informal settlements, such as Makoko in Lagos and Gishiri in Abuja, into dignified, livable communities.

He made the statement during a visit to his Abuja office by the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP), whose National President is Dr. Ogbonna Chime.

Minister Darma singled out several locations that need urgent upgrading, including Makoko, Gishiri, and certain settlements in Kano and Port Harcourt.

He announced that the ministry’s forthcoming urban development policy will prioritize these areas to improve living conditions for their residents.

Recognizing that the Regional and Urban Development Law of 1992 remains unenforced, Darma pledged a comprehensive review of the legislation. He emphasized that collaboration with the Regional Development Ministry will be essential to achieve full implementation.

The minister also reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to employing only indigenous consultants. He described this approach as a deliberate strategy to create jobs, transfer skills, and expand local capacity in the built‑environment sector.

“The ministry has already trained about 2,000 individuals in built‑environment skills, and these young people are now applying what they learned across Nigeria,” he said.

Addressing the issue of replacing retired staff, highlighted by NITP guests, Darma urged professionals and public servants to adopt innovation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), noting that technology will increasingly shape the future of work.