The Senate was embroiled in a heated debate on Wednesday as lawmakers questioned the Ministry of Housing over its N92 billion contractor debt and the implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Housing Program. The session highlighted concerns about transparency, project visibility, and the ministry’s capacity to address Nigeria’s housing deficit.
Central to the session was the ministry’s claim of constructing 7,522 housing units under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, with 3,388 completed. However, Sen. Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) expressed skepticism, alleging that these units are invisible in key regions, including his constituency in Bauchi State.
“These housing units are supposed to be symbols of renewed hope, yet they seem to exist only on paper,” Ningi said, calling for detailed disclosure of project locations and status.
The senators also criticized the ministry’s financial management, particularly the unresolved N92 billion debt owed to 6,455 contractors.
Sen. Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West) decried the plight of contractors, many of whom borrowed funds to execute government projects under the Renewed Hope initiative.
“These contractors have been abandoned, their livelihoods destroyed, while the housing deficit remains unaddressed,” Ngwu said, urging for a special intervention fund to settle the debts.
Sen. Ningi further raised concerns about the N22.6 billion unaccounted for from the 2023 supplementary budget. “How can we move forward when past allocations remain shrouded in mystery?” he asked, demanding comprehensive reports on budget utilization.
Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South) defended the ministry, emphasizing that housing projects require time and careful planning.
“You don’t acquire land, do surveys, and build houses overnight,” Ibrahim argued, calling for patience and faith in the Renewed Hope Housing Program.
His defense, however, provoked an uproar, with lawmakers accusing him of shielding the ministry from accountability.
Amid the drama, Committee Chairman Sen. Aminu Tambuwal intervened, rebuking the ministry for its lack of preparedness. He directed its representatives to return on Monday with detailed reports on project locations, financial breakdowns, and plans to address contractor debts.
“This committee will not tolerate vague presentations. Nigerians deserve transparency and results,” Tambuwal asserted.
The contentious session underscored growing doubts about the Renewed Hope Housing Program’s effectiveness.
While some senators defended the ministry’s efforts to bridge Nigeria’s housing deficit, others insisted on concrete results to justify public trust and future funding.
As the debate intensifies, the Ministry of Housing faces mounting pressure to deliver on Tinubu’s vision of affordable housing and restore confidence in the administration’s flagship program.
