Stakeholders collaboration critical to carbon free cities– Barr. Nasale.
Yahaya Zakka Minna
Niger state commissioner for Lands and Housing in Niger state,Barr. Muktar Ibrahim Nasale has called for synergy among relevant stakeholders in human settlement to create sustainable carbon neutral inclusive towns and cities.
Muktar Ibrahim Nasale made the call in his message to mark the 2021 World Habitat Day, disclosing that every first Monday of the month of October was set aside by the United Nation’s resolution 40/202A of December,1985 as World Habitat Day.
The Commissioner stressed that the day was to reflect on the state of human settlements and on the basic rights of all to adequate shelter, adding that the Day was also intended to remind the world that every individual has the power and responsibility to shape the future of human habitant.
He mentioned that this year’s theme was “Accelerating Urban Action for a Carbon Free World” added that the theme recognized that cities were responsible for about 70 percent of global Carbon Dioxide emission with transportation, buildings, energy and waste management accounting for the bulk of Urban greenhouse gas emission.
Nasale pointed that this year’s events and activities will focus on how national, regional and local governments, as well as organizations, communities, academic institutions, private sector can work together to create sustainable carbon-neutral inclusive towns and cities.
The commissioner further mentioned that as part of Niger State government efforts towards achieving the goal of the new urban agenda of a balanced development across the urban-rural divide, the present administration in the state under the leadership of Alh. Abubakar Sani Bello has recalibrated the human settlement development initiatives through his deliberate and concerted effort through partnership and finding of human settlement activities.
He then disclosed that the programmes of the present administration in the state towards addressing the human habitat related challenges capable of hindering sustainable economic development in the state to include the ongoing partnership with UN-Habitat in preparation for New Niger State Urban Policy that will chart a new course in the state Urban development strategy, preparation of integrated development plans for both Minna and Suleja, Suleja Smart City project.
He stated that the projects were been supported by UN-Habitat and the government of South Korea, adding that the government on its own was consistently upgrading Urban infrastructure, urban roads reconstruction, water supply network expansion and recently the ministry of lands and housing initiated the Minna urban regeneration through Acupuncture.
He implore partners of the ministry as well as relevant stakeholders to continue to support the government in its efforts to reposition the human settlement sub-sector, and also advise the public to abide by all the land use and urban development regulations in their day to day activities, as well as ensure that they pay promptly their statutory land related charges and also to ensure their developments were in accordance with the approved land use.
Muktar Ibrahim Nasale further disclosed that the ministry will soon embark on an on-the-spot assessment of Urban uses in various Urban centres to ensure compliance, also added that as part of activities to mark the day, the ministry was organising a two weeks clinic starting from October 4, on Land Documentation, Housing and Development control, where members of the public were expected to interact with officials of the ministry and get answers to their problems.
He said, “As from the 4th of October, 2021, the officials of the Ministry and its agencies will be available, at the clinic, at the NIGIS conference room to respond to complaints/enquiries related to registration of properties/ titles, Government housing programmes and development control challenges being faced by the citizens.”
He urged members of the public to take advantage of the window to get clarification and solution to their problems, saying it was a rare opportunity to have one-on-one interaction with the relevant officials.
