The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, says the Federal Government is implementing several initiatives toward achieving inclusive and integrated urban development.

Dangiwa stated this in his address at the 2024 Conference of Directors and Heads of Town Planning Organisations in Nigeria on Tuesday in Akure.

The minster said one of the foremost efforts was the comprehensive review of the 2012 National Urban Development Policy, which was ready for approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Dangiwa also said the ministry was actively involved in the implementation of transformational physical programmes targeted at promoting sustainable settlements growth and development across Nigeria.

He said the ministry had made substantial progress in increasing the stock of affordable and decent housing stock for Nigerians with the ground-breaking of 6,612 housing units across 13 locations nationwide.

According to him, the programme is under the ministry’s Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme.

”The programme includes; 3,112 housing unit Renewed Hope City in Karsana Abuja, under Public Private Partnership (PPP).

“Twelve other locations are being funded under the 2023 Supplementary Budget and they include the 500 Renewed Hope City in Kano and 250 Renewed Hope Estates in Katsina.

”Other’s are in Yobe, Gombe, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Benue, Nasarawa, Osun and Oyo,” he said.

Dangiwa said the cities would be designed and managed in a way that fosters integration, sustainability and inclusivity.

“As we navigate the challenges and opportunities of urbanisation, let us commit to building cities that work for all Nigerians – cities that are resilient, productive and sustainable.

“Once more, I challenge you all to participate actively and maximise the benefits accruable from discussions at this meeting. I look forward to receiving your decisions and conclusions,” he said.

Speaking, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, urged the Directors and Heads of Town Planning Organisations to build a system of accountability that would seamlessly see to the running of the activities of the country.

Aiyedatiwa, represented by the Commissioner for Urban and Regional Planning, Mr Gbenga Olaniyi, said effective physical planning was a tool to control flooding.

This, he said, would enhance the projections on global warming and spatial land use management in Nigeria.

“We need to remedy many of our spatial challenges, such as land management and resource handling, without which no development can be attained.

“Integrating this for equitable sustainability calls for all hands to be on deck at the accurate application of land planning tools and spatial land use.

”This will give us the pathway to sustainable planning development in Nigeria,” he said.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oyo State Command, has confirmed the death of six persons in an accident involving multiple vehicles on Monday at Oke Eleshin, Amuloko area of the State.

The FRSC Public Education Officer in the State, Mayowa Odewo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Monday in a text message that five persons were injured in the accident.

Odewo said eleven persons were involved in the accident, while the five vehicles involved in the accident were two tricycles, two trucks and a Sienna car.

He said the five injured persons had been taken to Amuloko City Hospital by good Samaritans, while the corpses were taken to University College Hospital, Ibadan, before the arrival of FRSC personnel.

Odewo urged drivers to adhere strictly to road safety rules and regulations in order to reduce avoidable crashes.

An eyewitness told NAN that among the death were pupils and a mother to one of the pupils.

The witness said that a trailer appeared to have lost control and rammed into the vehicles.

Wild Africa says that the public hearing for the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill 2024 has been scheduled for Oct. 24 in Nigeria’s House of Representatives.

This is contained in a statement issued by Nigeria’s Representative of Wild Africa, Mr Festus Iyorah, on Monday in Lagos.

Iyorah said that the bill was championed by Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Hon. Terseer Ugbor.

According to him, the bill tackles pressing challenges, such as illegal wildlife trade, conservation of species, and the decline of Nigeria’s precious wildlife and their habitats.

He said that the bill also seeks to improve the capabilities of law enforcement agencies, give investigators more powers to look into financial matters and conduct operations guided by intelligence.

Iyorah said that the bill would enable judges to speed up wildlife cases and recover assets, while also aligning with international treaties, encouraging global cooperation and introducing stricter penalties for poachers and traffickers.

“Protecting our wildlife means protecting livelihoods and ensuring a balanced ecosystem, and we can’t allow wildlife trafficking to continue to threaten our natural heritage,” Ugbor said.

According to him, the hearing will provide a platform for everybody to voice his/her opinions on the vital issue, urging everyone to participate in the conversation.

Iyorah said that the public hearing would be held jointly by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements and its Committee on the Environment.

He said that the bill had garnered significant support from local and international organisations, including Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI).

Others included: the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency UK (EIA) and the Wild Africa (WA), which had been actively supporting the Federal Government’s efforts at combating wildlife trafficking.

Iyorah added that Wild Africa had the support of the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the UK Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and the Pangolin Crisis Fund.