President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn in Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma as the new Minister of Housing and Urban Development, tasking him to bring competence and urgency to a critical sector at a pivotal time in Nigeria’s development.
The brief but significant ceremony took place on Friday at the State House in Abuja, following Dr. Darma’s confirmation by the Senate. He takes over from Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, who recently stepped down from the position.
Congratulating the new minister, Tinubu described him as a seasoned professional with a “rich and interesting background,” expressing confidence in his ability to deliver.
“As a leader, we need competent hands like yours… You are a fitting peg in the right position,” the President said, urging him to be ready to serve wherever duty calls.
Dr. Darma, a distinguished scholar and development expert, brings decades of experience in engineering, governance, and public administration.
He holds a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Liverpool and a PhD in Industrial Engineering from Atlantic International University.
An alumnus of Bayero University Kano and the University of Benin, Darma has held several key roles, including Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund and commissioner positions in Katsina State.
He is also a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Nigerian Institute of Management, and has contributed to academia as a lecturer, with numerous publications in governance and development.
Before his appointment, he served as President of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Human Development Centre in Katsina.
The appointment comes as the Tinubu administration seeks to ramp up housing delivery and urban development nationwide, placing fresh expectations on the new minister to tackle infrastructure gaps and expand access to affordable housing.
About The Author
