Dangiwa: Green Housing Crucial for SDG 11 Achievement

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has underscored the significance of sustainable housing in attaining Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11. This goal advocates for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities. He made this statement while addressing attendees at the 2024 Archibuilt Exposition organized by the Nigerian Institute of Architects in Abuja. 
 
Dangiwa urged building professionals to adopt green, climate-smart housing technologies that support sustainability. He emphasized architects' pivotal role in shaping urban spaces' futures against a backdrop of rapid urbanization and population growth. 
 
"We have seen transformative ideas presented at previous expositions," said Dangiwa. "These include using sustainable building materials to energy-efficient designs, water conservation techniques, and zero-emission construction technologies." 
 
He went on to stress how these ongoing discussions would shape Nigeria's construction industry's future with global resonance. The minister believes that innovation based on technology coupled with equitable resource utilization models is essential for progress. 
 
With rural-urban migration increasing rapidly alongside projections estimating Nigeria's population will exceed 400 million by 2050, infrastructural strain is inevitable—requiring urgent innovative responses from the architectural community. 
 
"As architects," he asked rhetorically, "how do we respond to this scenario of an ever-increasing strain on our natural resources?" 
 
To address current and future needs effectively, Dangiwa advocated homegrown solutions that promote sustainability while preserving cultural identity through local material use like bamboo, laterite, or compressed earth blocks, which reduce carbon footprints but maintain structural integrity. 
 
Under President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda initiative aimed at promoting sustainable housing development across Nigeria, Dangiwa revealed plans for six new 'Renewed Hope Cities', each undergoing the EDGE Green Certification process—creating a significant green footprint within national housing history. 
 
Additionally announced was a plan to establish six manufacturing hubs specializing in building materials throughout Nigeria—another step towards sustainable urban development. 
 
Former Vice President Namadi Sambo, who was a special guest at the event, urged for cities to be reimagined as dynamic ecosystems that promote mobility and improve quality of life. "We must invest in cities that reduce congestion and enhance people's lives," said Sambo. He suggested architects should form a think tank to provide practical innovations periodically to advance the housing sector. 
 
The Nigerian Institute of Architects' President, Mobolaji Adeniyi, noted how the Archibuilt Exposition showcased cutting-edge ideas and technologies redefining built environments, emphasizing architecture's intersection with technology and innovation. 
 
Adeniyi highlighted how this event underscored growing recognition that sustainable housing is essential in combating rapid urbanization challenges alongside climate change while promoting social equity, positioning it as an integral part of Nigeria's future development.