The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering affordable housing to members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council.
Speaking during the NUJ FCT Council Press Week Lecture and Awards Ceremony held on Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister assured that the long anticipated Journalists’ Village project would become a reality. The event was themed “Journalism in a Changing World: Press Freedom, Media, Democracy, and Society.”
Dangiwa stated that the project aligned with the objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and National Urban Renewal Initiatives aimed at providing decent and affordable housing to Nigerians.
“To the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Chapter, I want to reassure you of our earlier engagements and my personal commitment. The dream of establishing a Journalists’ Village in the FCT will come to life,” Dangiwa said.
“We will direct the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), through the Cooperative Housing Development initiative, to secure land for the estate and facilitate its development,” he added.
Beyond housing, the Minister used the platform to advocate stronger legal protections and sustainable funding mechanisms for independent media, noted that the safety and welfare of journalists are crucial for the sustainability of democracy.
“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 amplify them,” Dangiwa stated.
He commended President Tinubu for championing media freedom and transparency, asserted that under the current administration, there has been a clear commitment to open dialogue and press independence.
“Press freedom is not just lip service; it is a policy and practice under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he declared.
Dangiwa also acknowledged the evolving nature of journalism in a digital world, stating that while innovation has enabled wider and faster dissemination of information, it has also introduced new risks.
“Digital innovation has made it easier to tell stories in real time, but it has also made journalism more dangerous. Misinformation spreads fast, and online harassment especially of female journalists is a real threat,” he noted.
“Despite these challenges, your work matters immensely. Democracy thrives not just on elections, but on access to accurate, timely, and credible information and that is what the press provides,” the Minister added.
Earlier in her remarks, Chairperson of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, described the proposed Journalists’ Village as a long-awaited initiative and a top priority of her administration.
“Our goal is simple to provide decent and affordable homes for journalists and their families in the heart of the nation’s capital. We are working closely with the Ministry of Housing and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to make this dream a reality,” Ike said.
She also highlighted other initiatives under her leadership, including the modernization of the NUJ FCT Congress Hall, procurement of a union coastal bus, completion of the NUJ Pentagon Hall, and the establishment of a journalists’ welfare scheme.
“These projects are not luxuries; they are foundational investments in the future of journalism and the well-being of those who power it. I call on government stakeholders, media proprietors, partners, and friends of the union to join us in making these dreams a reality,” she said.
