IBY
Peterside Rejoice Eneky
The Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development became a hotbed of intense debates on Wednesday, as senators took the Ministry of Housing to task over a N92 billion contractor debt and the lack of visible housing projects in its 2024 budget performance.
Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) led the charge, criticizing the ministry for failing to deliver significant housing projects in Bauchi State and other parts of the country. Ningi expressed disbelief at the ministry’s claims of completing 3,388 out of 7,522 housing units nationwide. “I’ve been a senator for over a year, and I’ve neither seen nor heard of these projects in my constituency. Are these housing units real or just numbers on paper?” he queried. He also raised concerns about the transparency of N22.6 billion unaccounted for from the 2023 supplementary budget.
Ningi questioned the ministry’s budget execution, asking, “How can we approve the 2025 budget when the 2024 allocations remain unfulfilled?” He demanded the ministry clarify project locations and financial accountability before seeking further approvals.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South) countered the criticism, defending the ministry’s work and stressing the complexity of housing projects. “You don’t acquire land, do surveys, and build houses in one day,” Ibrahim argued, noting that the ministry had been granted an extension for its 2024 capital projects. However, his comments stirred controversy, with senators accusing him of defending the ministry instead of allowing its officials to respond.
The session also highlighted the struggles of 6,455 contractors owed N92 billion by the ministry. Senator Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West) described the contractors’ financial hardships, noting that many had taken loans to fund government projects but were now left in limbo. Ngwu called for a special intervention fund to settle the debts.
As tensions rose, Committee Chairman Senator Aminu Tambuwal stepped in, criticizing the ministry’s lack of preparedness. “This committee will not tolerate half-baked presentations,” he said, ordering ministry representatives to return with detailed reports on project locations, financial breakdowns, and plans to address contractor debts.
The heated session left key issues unanswered, including the specific locations of housing projects, the exclusion of some states, the fate of the N22.6 billion from the 2023 budget, and the ministry’s strategy for resolving the contractor debt crisis.
About Author
