FG to deliver Journalists’ village soon – Housing Minister assures NUJ

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to providing affordable housing for members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, assuring that the long-anticipated journalists’ village in Abuja will soon become a reality.

Speaking on Tuesday during the NUJ FCT Council Press Week Lecture and Awards Ceremony, themed “Journalism in a Changing World: Press Freedom, Media, Democracy, and Society”, Dangiwa emphasized that the ministry remains committed to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He noted that through initiatives like the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and the National Urban Renewal Initiatives, the government is making deliberate efforts to improve housing access for all Nigerians.

Addressing journalists directly, the minister said: “To the Chairman of NUJ FCT chapter, I want to assure you that our previous engagements and discussions about the journalists’ village in the FCT will yield results.”

“I assure you that your dream will become a reality as I pledged during our courtesy meeting.”

He added that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) will be directed to facilitate the provision of land through Cooperative Housing Development for the project.

Dangiwa also called for stronger legal protections for journalists and improved funding models for independent media.

He stressed the importance of a safe and supportive environment for media professionals: “We must ensure that every journalist feels safe, respected, and supported.”

“I say this not just as a minister, but as a citizen who believes in the power of ideas and those who carry them.”

He urged the media to continue engaging critically with government programmes, particularly those under his ministry, saying: “We want Nigerians to understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.

And there’s no one better placed to tell that story than you, journalists, editors, producers, and publishers.”

Commending President Tinubu, the minister said the administration has demonstrated a clear commitment to democratic principles and press freedom.

“This is not just rhetoric. It is a policy, a practice, and part of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he stated.

Reflecting on the current state of journalism, Dangiwa noted the dual impact of digital technology, which allows for wider reach and faster reporting but also exposes journalists to online harassment and misinformation.

He highlighted the growing dangers facing media practitioners, especially women, and said: “Events like this are important.”

“Your work matters because democracy relies not just on elections, but on access to accurate, timely information. That’s what the press provides, free, fair, and fearless.”

NUJ FCT Chairperson, Ms. Grace Ike, in her remarks, reiterated that establishing a journalists’ village remains a top priority under her leadership.

She revealed that the council is actively collaborating with the Housing Ministry and the FMBN to realise this vision.

“Our goal is simple: to provide decent, affordable homes for journalists and their families right here in the nation’s capital,” she said.

Ike also unveiled other major projects, including the modernization of the NUJ Congress Hall, acquisition of a union bus, completion of the NUJ Pentagon Hall, and the launch of a journalists’ welfare scheme.

“These are not luxuries, they are vital investments in journalism and in the well-being of those who uphold the profession,” she added, calling on government officials, media proprietors, and partners to support the union’s development agenda.

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