Metro
Addressing Mortgage Financing Hitch, Key to Housing Delivery – Fashola
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, says addressing the issue of access to mortgage financing is the panacea to housing delivery challenge in the country.
Fashola said this at the opening of the Board/Management Retreat of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) on Monday, in Abuja.
The retreat is with the theme: ”Strategy Repositing for Optimised Performance, Organisational Culture Change and Informal Sector Integration’’.
According to him, one of the obstacles of access to housing is the one that impedes access to finance, and this must be removed.
“If we fail to remove this impediment, then we will be failing in the reason for setting up the bank.
“There must be something done to help people pays their rents via their salaries, especially the problem of two-three years rent payment demand by landlords in advance from tenants whose salaries come in arrears,’’ Fashola said.
He, therefore, advised the bank to collaborate with the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation contributors’ fund like other commercial banks do.
Fashola added that this would go a long way to finance the mortgage of contributors since there was nowhere in the world that government does 100 per cent housing financing.
While commending the bank’s board and management for the services rendered such as home refurbishment loans and introduction of the rent to own initiative, he charged them to focus the retreat on better ways to serve the people.
Fashola said that performance and repositioning were key to setting up the bank to provide housing services to the people.
On his part, Mr Ayodeji Gbeleyi, Chairman, Board of Directors, FMBN called for the review of both the FMBN and National Housing Fund (NHF) Acts to incorporate increment in the bank’s share capital.
“Give more flexibility in determining share capital structure in line with emerging realities. There is the case to amend the NHF Act to increase the accretion of contributors to the funds through percentage increase in contributions.
“Source diversification, adoption of initiatives to attract banks and insurance companies and other prospective contributors to participate actively in the NHF scheme.
“The Land Use Act has no specifics provisions for the foreclosure of mortgages and this poses a challenge for investors, as mortgages can take undue advantage of the gap to delay the foreclosure process.
Gbeleyi said to close the gap, states should be encouraged to put in place foreclosure laws through their States Houses of Assembly, adding that only Lagos and Kaduna states had enacted their foreclosure laws.
In his address, Mr Madu Hamman, Managing Director, FMBN said the need to re-focus the direction of the bank was driven by the need to re-align its strategic targets in the light of prevailing economic, financial and social realities.
Also to re-configure the strategy document to incorporate the vision and focus of the bank’s new leadership in implementing Mr President’s mandate for affordable housing delivery to Nigerians especially those in the low and middle income brackets.
“Our collective vision for FMBN in the future is a financially viable and highly adaptive bank capable of adequately coping with the vagrancies of a world transiting, from a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment.
“To a brittle, anxious, non-linear and incomprehensible environment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergence and unfolding factors.
“To this end, the bank’s strategy document must become the tool for managing a constantly shifting environment as well as one for identifying and utilising opportunities that such challenges may present,” he said.
Hamman said FMBN had therefore adapted “to be the preferred mortgage institution providing reliable and affordable access to homeownership for Nigerian’’ as its corporate vision.
He said that this vision was guided by the mission statement“ to drive the delivery of accessible and affordable homeownership by providing sustainable liquidity, innovative products and services and excellent customer service’’.
Also speaking, Mr Ebilate Mac-Yoroki, President, Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN), said it was imperative for FMBN as one of the virile secondary mortgage market institutions to reposition itself to harness its full potential.
Mac-Yoroki said that the bank should taking cognizance of the current economic realities in the country into consideration while trying to reposition.
”A Board /Management retreat such as this will be ideal to challenge the status quo, tackle difficult issues and forge a camaraderie for the overall benefit of the entire sub-sector.
“The five-year strategy blueprint being articulated by the management demonstrates its commitment toward housing financing in Nigeria.
“In view of the critical importance of the housing financing banking sub-sector to national economic development through its linkages with the money and capital markets and its multiplier effects through spending on housing related materials,” he said.
In a paper presented by the Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr Olukayode Pitan, on `Institutional Turnaround for the Next Level’ advocated continuity in the management of the banks.
According to him, lack of continuity in the persons that manage the affairs of the banks is a major setback for the growth and development of the bank.
Pitan called on the bank to have a strategy informed ambition with clearly articulated and properly defined steps in order to achieve set goals.
He also advised the bank to go for long term borrowing especially from pension funds and be ready to implement any decision collectively agreed upon.
Newsmen report that some of the highlights include, health talk on `Mental Health Epidemic: The Big Effect of COVID-19 by Dr Olusola Ephraim-Oluwanuga, Consultant Psychiatrist.
She advised people to get professional help when they could not manage stress.
Newsmen also report that the high point of the event was the official launch of FMBN Corporate Statements by the minister. (NAN)
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The National Command of the Man O’ War Nigeria has kickstart its 4th National Camping Exercise in Jos with over 3000 participants to undergo morden security intelligence and detection of threats to school environments across Nigeria.
The National Commander, Man O’ War Nigeria, Adedamola Gbenga charged the participants of the 4th National Camping to see the exercise as a mission to build safer schools and more resilient communities across Nigeria.
He stated this on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of the Camp, held at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Mountain School, Shere Hills, Jos, Plateau State.
The Camp which runs from 9th to 15th August 2026, brought together volunteers, officers and partners from across the country.
The Commander stressed that the National Camp is “more than a gathering, more than a camping exercise, and more than an annual organizational event. It is a strategic platform for strengthening our volunteers, renewing our commitment to national service, building leadership capacity and preparing Man O’ War Nigeria for greater responsibilities in the years ahead.”
The theme of the camp is, “Strengthening Community Based Safe School Framework; for a Secure and Resilient Nigeria” with the sub theme: “Building Safer School through partnership, Preparedness and Collective Responsibilities.”
A major highlight, according to the Commander, is the capacity-building program for Safe School Awareness and Preparedness Training (SSAPT) with resources drawn from across the country.
Some of the areas listed for the training include; “safeguarding and child protection, early warning and early response, emergency preparedness, security awareness, school risk management, community mobilization and resilience building, more so, to speak in strong terms against the recruitment and use of children in armed violence.”
Commander Gbenga urged participants to approach the camp with all seriousness, “To all participants, particularly our SSAPT Coordinators, I charge you to take this training seriously. Do not see this camp merely as an opportunity to meet colleagues, participate in drills and enjoy the beautiful environment of Jos. See it as a mission”, he tasked the participants
The National Coordinator of Safe School Initiative Hajiya Halima Iliya said the training activities of the Man O’ War Nigeria is part of the efforts to challenge the federal government’s safe school plan launched in 2022.
Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang represented by the Commissioner for EducationDr. Kacholom Gang disclosed that the state is set to train 1000 Safe School security personnel that will be deployed across the state.
The Governor reassured the safety of children in school across the state and the participants of the 4th National Camping Exercise in Jos.
By David Torough, Abuja
The Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have renewed their strategic partnership with the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening maritime safety and security across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
The agreement was signed at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja in the presence of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas; the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA, Dr.
Dayo Mobereola; Principal Staff Officers; and senior officials of both institutions.The renewed agreement builds on a partnership that dates back to 2007 and has been sustained through successive renewals. The latest MoU is expected to further align the mandates, capabilities and expertise of the two institutions while improving operational coordination and delivering measurable outcomes in maritime safety and security.
Speaking ahead of the signing, Mobereola described the renewal as a reaffirmation of the shared commitment of NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy to the security, safety, sustainability and prosperity of Nigeria’s maritime domain and Blue Economy.
He stressed that Nigeria’s economic wellbeing is closely linked to the sea, making the protection of the country’s maritime space a national imperative. He also acknowledged the Nigerian Navy’s role as a critical pillar of the nation’s maritime security architecture and its operational support to NIMASA in carrying out its statutory responsibilities.
Abbas, in his remarks, described the renewed MoU as an important milestone in the longstanding relationship between the two organisations, which he said was founded on decades of cooperation and shared national interests.
The Naval Chief expressed confidence in NIMASA’s leadership and progress, reaffirming the Navy’s commitment to supporting the agency in the effective discharge of its mandate over the next five years.
He emphasised that sustained inter-agency cooperation remains essential to securing Nigeria’s maritime space, protecting national interests and creating an enabling environment for the development of the Blue Economy.
Under the renewed framework, the Navy and NIMASA will expand cooperation in key areas including maritime safety and security, marine pollution control, search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, intelligence and information sharing, hydrography, training and professional capacity development.
The collaboration is expected to enhance maritime domain awareness and improve coordinated responses to incidents at sea, while supporting the safety of ships, crew, cargo, passengers and navigation within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
The MoU also provides for greater institutional cooperation through timely intelligence and information exchange, appropriate utilisation of relevant facilities and capabilities, and collaboration in other areas of mutual interest.
To ensure sustained implementation, the agreement will be subjected to regular institutional reviews. The two organisations will also jointly convene an annual Maritime Safety and Security Conference to assess progress, identify emerging challenges and refine their priorities.
The Nigerian Navy said securing Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone remains central to protecting lives and property, safeguarding legitimate maritime activities, preserving national security and supporting the sustainable development of the Blue Economy.
The Navy further reaffirmed its commitment to working with NIMASA, sister Services and other security agencies to protect Nigeria’s maritime interests and defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The renewed partnership, the institutions said, is expected to contribute to a safer, more secure and prosperous maritime environment for Nigeria and the wider Gulf of Guinea.
The Adamawa Government has inaugurated a Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Strategy for Child Nutrition to commemorate the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week.
The wife of the governor, Lami Fintiri, inaugurated the strategy on Wednesday in Yola as part of activities marking the global event.
The 2026 theme is: “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.
”Fintiri said the strategy would provide a practical roadmap for promoting positive healthcare and nutrition practices across the state.
She described exclusive breastfeeding as the simplest, most effective and affordable way of providing infants with adequate nutrition.
“Every child deserves the best start in life through exclusive breastfeeding and proper nutrition.
“Breastfeeding protects babies against illnesses, while helping mothers recover faster after childbirth and reducing postpartum bleeding” she said.
She reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving maternal, newborn and child health through sustained investments in primary healthcare and nutrition programmes.
She said the government was creating an enabling environment for mothers and children to survive and thrive.
Fintiri also commended UNICEF and other development partners for supporting healthcare service delivery in Adamawa.
Executive Chairman, Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Sulaiman Bashir, said the agency was promoting exclusive breastfeeding and tackling misconceptions surrounding the practice.
Bashir said the agency had intensified public awareness campaigns on the benefits of breastfeeding for child survival and healthy development.
A beneficiary, Augustina Sunday, said exclusive breastfeeding also reduced mothers’ risk of breast cancer and other childbirth-related health complications.
Healthcare kits were presented to breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women during the event.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding with complementary foods up to two years or beyond.
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