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The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqa Darma, has inaugurated a Ministerial Committee on the Implementation Framework.

This, he said, is for the Validated Stakeholder Resolutions on Housing Sector Reforms, tasking members with turning stakeholder recommendations into concrete action for Nigeria’s built environment sector.

The 14-member committee comprises of members drawn from the Ministry’s technical departments and its relevant agencies, and chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

Part of the committee’s terms of reference is to drive and coordinate the implementation of the reform measures contained in the Implementation Framework.

Others are to develop a detailed work plan specifying priority actions, timelines and deliverables, and to monitor progress to ensure assigned actions are delivered within approved timelines, among others.

Speaking at the inauguration, Darma recalled that stakeholders across the housing industry had earlier converged for a validation conference to review the housing deficit data compiled by the Ministry and to set out a policy direction for transforming the sector.

He said the workshop produced recommendations now grouped into three categories which are: those the Ministry can implement immediately, those requiring the go-ahead of the Presidential Council, and those that will require legislative action.

The Minister said the Ministry’s core mandate remains housing Nigerians directly or creating the enabling environment for citizens to house themselves, describing this as a responsibility that the Ministry takes seriously.

He also stressed the need to strengthen regulation of the built environment so it can contribute more meaningfully to the national economy.

Citing 2025 data from the National Bureau of Statistics, Darma noted that the sector currently contributes about 17 percent to Nigeria’s economy, compared to between 22 and 27 percent in similar economies such as South Africa and Kenya.

He expressed confidence that with the right reforms, Nigeria’s housing sector could close that gap and become a leading driver of national economic growth.

Darma charged committee members to work diligently, noting they had been carefully selected to lead the sector’s transformation. He urged the team to deliver a robust implementation strategy within the six weeks given for the assignment.

Accordingly, he also charged members of the committee to develop a workable implementation strategy that will transform the entire built environment industry and position it as a major driver of Nigeria’s economy.

The Minister further described the committee as central to building a housing sector that accommodates every stakeholder while becoming a major contributor to the national economy.

Responding on behalf of the committee, the Permanent Secretary Dr. Shuaib Belgore who is also the chairman of the committee, described the assignment as a privilege aimed at improving housing outcomes for Nigerians, standardising practice across the housing sector, and unlocking its potential contribution to the nation’s GDP.

He commended the Minister’s transformative leadership, noting that the housing sector had continued to attract national attention due to the pace of activities under his watch, including groundbreaking ceremonies, estate handovers, and stakeholder consultations, assuring him that the committee shared his urgency to deliver results.

The Permanent Secretary said the committee had already been handed a working document that would be reviewed thoroughly to identify gaps and refine it into an effective framework, pledging the committee’s full cooperation and loyalty to deliver its mandate within the six-week timeframe given.

Belgore noted that further stakeholder consultations would be held as the implementation framework takes shape, to ensure wide support, and thanked the Minister on behalf of the committee for the opportunity to serve in the effort to ensure Nigerian families are properly housed.

On their part, the Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Shehu Usman Osidi commended the Minister for the reform initiative, noting that some proposals already align with steps the bank has taken.

Drawing on FMBN’s past experience, where attempts to push through the National Housing Fund (NHF) and FMBN Acts, and later a N500 billion recapitalisation bid, stalled due to stakeholder pushback, he stressed that effective stakeholder consultation would be critical to the reforms’ success this time.

Former Zamfara State Governor and Director-General of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign council, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, has said he returned to his home state to mobilise critical stakeholders for the success of the President’s re-election bid.

Yari stated this while speaking during his consultation and mobilisation visit to Zamfara State, where he met party leaders and other stakeholders.

He said although his responsibility as Director-General required him to travel across the country to market the achievements and vision of President Tinubu, he considered it necessary to return home and rally the people of Zamfara.

‘After the council, I found it necessary to come back home. It is my responsibility to work in every corner of Nigeria to market Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to showcase what he has done in the past three years and his vision for a better Nigeria, and why he should be elected as president,’ he said.

‘But this is my homeland. So, wherever we are going, it must start from home. We are one of the three leading states, by God’s grace, and therefore we need to come together and rub shoulders with every other state that is going to lead us.’

According to him, the meeting was aimed at engaging critical stakeholders, including ward and local government working committees, state-level party officials and other identified stakeholders.

Yari said the responsibility of ensuring victory for Tinubu in 2027 was not his alone, but that of all party members and stakeholders.

He said his appointment as Director-General was an opportunity entrusted to him by God, stressing that there were thousands of people who could have occupied the position.

‘Allah chose me to be here as Director-General. Therefore, their support should be vast. We are here to tell them what we are expecting from them and what we are hoping to achieve as a party,’ he said.

Yari expressed confidence that Zamfara would deliver massive support for President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

‘I have mentioned a number, but by God’s grace, our work will not be less than one of the three. We will give massive support to Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Insha Allah, we are going to win the election,’ he said.

He explained that the campaign would involve different forms of consultations, including meetings with stakeholders, open engagements and mass mobilisation.

‘We are not going into the election contemplating whether we will win. No. We are going to win and win convincingly,’ he added.

Yari said the campaign would focus on the achievements of the Tinubu administration and the challenges it inherited, rather than attacking individuals.

‘Our campaign is not about mentioning anybody. We will talk about what we have done for Nigeria, where we met Nigeria economically and security-wise, and what we have achieved so far,’ he said.

He acknowledged that some of the economic reforms introduced by the administration had caused hardship, but argued that some reforms were necessary to reposition the economy.

‘Some of the economic policies must be implemented through painful processes for the economy. Therefore, we are working tirelessly for Nigeria. Asiwaju is working tirelessly, thinking about how Nigeria is going to look like, including the social issues,’ he said.

On taxation, Yari said the administration’s proposed tax reforms were designed to ensure that taxation was based on people’s earnings and that the burden would not fall disproportionately on the masses.

‘We said taxation will be based on earnings. We are not going to tax the masses in a way that will make them suffer under the new tax regime. Those who are not paying will pay, while those who earn more will pay according to their earnings,’ he said.

He argued that, if properly implemented, tax revenue could provide sufficient resources to sustain the Nigerian economy and fund development.

Yari also highlighted the increase in revenue available to states compared with the situation during his tenure as Zamfara governor, attributing the development partly to reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.

On insecurity, he said the Federal Government was spending unprecedented resources to combat terrorism and banditry.

He disclosed that President Tinubu recently showed him documentation relating to the procurement of ammunition and other security equipment worth more than $7 million.

According to him, such expenditure, although necessary to address insecurity, would otherwise have been available for infrastructure and economic development.

‘We are now putting those resources into security. That is the point. Let it be known that about this amount is being spent to control the issue of insecurity,’ he said.

Yari said the government was working with the country’s security personnel to defeat insecurity and free resources for infrastructure and economic development.

‘By God’s grace, we are going to succeed, Insha Allah. Bola Ahmed Tinubu will succeed in fighting this insecurity and banditry,’ he said.

He added that the campaign would focus on issues affecting Nigeria rather than personalities.

‘No individual is before us today. Nigeria is before us as Nigerians. That is the basis of our campaign and how we want the country to look like,’ Yari said.

The Sokoto State Police Command has urged residents to remain calm and peaceful as it investigates the alleged attempted killing of Islamic cleric, Malam Musa Lukuwa, shortly after Friday congregational prayer.

In a statement issued on Friday night, the command’s spokesman, DSP Ahmed Rufa’i, said preliminary investigations showed that an unidentified man entered the mosque and attacked Lukuwa immediately after the Jumu’at prayer.

He said the cleric was rushed to a specialist hospital for treatment and had been treated and discharged.

According to Rufa’i, the attacker brought out a knife and inflicted deep cuts on Lukuwa’s neck and left hand.

He said the assailant was subsequently overpowered and killed by an angry mob before security operatives could intervene.

‘The deceased assailant was rushed to hospital where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,’ the statement said.

The police condemned the killing of the suspect by the mob, urging residents to reject jungle justice and allow security agencies to investigate the incident.

‘We urge the good people of the Caliphate to embrace peace and refrain from any form of unrest or reprisal attacks,’ Rufa’i said.

The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, also urged residents to cooperate with security agencies as investigations continue.

‘It is imperative that we allow the law to take its course to ensure justice is served appropriately,’ he said.

Shaffa added that security personnel had been deployed to the area to maintain law and order.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest security post.

Nollywood stars including Deyemi Okanlawon and Enado Odigie, as well as filmmakers including Tola Odunsi, and leading entertainment industry personalities gathered at Fame, Lekki, Lagos, for the Nigerian premiere of ’19.’

The highly anticipated crime drama written and directed by filmmaker Tola Odunsi is produced by Bola Atta.

The premiere attracted a strong turnout of industry heavyweights including Toyin Abraham, Kunle Afolayan, and Wale Ojo amongst the notable personalities who walked the red carpet.

Also in attendance were Linda Ejiofor, Femi Adebayo, Darey Art Alade, Kunle Remi and members of the film’s cast and crew, who came together to celebrate the movie ahead of its nationwide cinema release.

Led by Stan Nze, Sola Sobowale, Bisola Aiyeola, Deyemi Okanlawon, William Benson and Ademola Adedoyin, ’19’ boasts an impressive ensemble cast that also includes Boma Akpore, Helen Enado Odigie, Tayo Faniran and Charles Okafor.

But beneath the glamour of its star-studded cast and premiere, ’19’ tells a story set against the backdrop of Nigeria’s battle with internet fraud.

’19’ tells the story of Ndubuisi Madueke, played by Stan Nze, a young man whose circumstances and desperation eventually draw him into the world of internet fraud. His journey takes a decisive turn after he encounters Usuanlele, a wealthy and influential figure in his neighbourhood who becomes his mentor. Rather than simply portraying internet fraud as a criminal act, ’19’ explores the circumstances that can push young people towards it, including poverty, unemployment, corruption, peer pressure and the relentless pursuit of financial success.

In his reaction to the film, Odunsi said, ‘Every crime has a story before the crime. With 19, I wanted to tell that story, to ask how a brilliant young man can move from wanting a better life to losing himself in the pursuit of it. This is not a film about glorifying the fast life; it is about understanding its cost and reminding us that the choices we make today can define the lives we live tomorrow.’

For the Producer Bola Atta, this was at the heart of the decision to make the film.

‘Internet fraud is gradually becoming endemic and is eating into the fabric of Nigerian society. Lives are being lost needlessly and families are being ruined as a result of the wrong choices made by some people.

‘Something definitely needs to be done to address this situation. That is why we decided to make a movie that not only reflects this reality but also shows that there is a better path to success, one that does not have to end in tragedy or destruction.’

The response at the premiere was particularly encouraging, with audiences connecting with the film’s themes and its underlying message.

Obi Asika, Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, who attended the premiere, described the film as both timely and necessary.

’19 is an important and timely film. Life is about choices, and we see that play out through Ndubuisi and his best friend, who face similar pressures but take different paths. Ndubuisi chooses the shortcut and pays the price, while his friend reminds us that legitimate pathways remain open to those with talent and discipline. These are the films we need to see more of: real issues, real stories and real decisions, told with courage and consequence.’

Also speaking at the premiere, Dr Busola Tejumola, Senior vice President of Content at Canal plus said ‘ 19 excellently delivers a timely message at a moment when internet fraud, cable piracy and content theft are becoming increasingly sophisticated threats to our society and our industry. The film doesn’t shy away from the real circumstances that push young people towards these choices. It is entertaining, but also necessary storytelling’

The title 19 is a reference to Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code, historically associated with advance-fee fraud, a term that has become synonymous with internet fraud in popular Nigerian usage.

19 opens in Nigerian cinemas on Friday, September 11.