By Ola Williams
ABUJA, Nigeria —
In a decisive pledge to members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, announced that the long-awaited affordable housing estate for journalists in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory will soon become a reality.
Speaking at the NUJ FCT Council’s Press Week Lecture and Awards Ceremony held Tuesday in Abuja, Dangiwa reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to improving the welfare of journalists through inclusive housing initiatives, anchored in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“To the Chairman of the NUJ FCT chapter, I reaffirm our earlier engagements, this housing dream will be fulfilled,” Dangiwa said. “Through the Cooperative Housing Development initiative, we will direct the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to secure land for this journalists’ estate.”
The minister’s remarks came during a lecture themed “Journalism in a Changing World: Press Freedom, Media, Democracy, and Society”. Dangiwa used the occasion to underscore the ministry’s alignment with national housing priorities, including the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and the National Urban Renewal Initiatives aimed at increasing access to affordable housing across Nigeria.
Beyond infrastructure, Dangiwa also spoke candidly about the challenges facing journalism in the digital age. He advocated for robust legal protections and sustainable funding models for independent media, emphasizing the need to ensure that journalists are safe, respected, and supported in their work.
“I say this not just as a minister, but as a citizen who believes in the power of ideas and those who give them voice,” he said. “We must protect journalists, especially in a time when misinformation spreads quickly and online harassment, particularly of women, is on the rise.”
Dangiwa praised President Tinubu for upholding press freedom and supporting democratic values through government transparency and open engagement with the media.
“This is not mere rhetoric, it’s a policy, a practice, and a core component of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the minister noted.
He urged journalists to continue holding public institutions accountable, including his own ministry, saying their reporting helps the public understand the government’s work and objectives.
“No one is better positioned to tell that story than you, the editors, producers, photographers, publishers, and reporters who serve as the nation’s conscience,” he said.
Press freedom, he added, is under increasing pressure globally, yet it remains an indispensable pillar of democracy.
“Democracy is not just about elections,” Dangiwa said. “It is about informed citizens, receiving timely, accurate, and fearless information from a press that is free to speak truth to power.”
In her opening remarks, Grace Ike, Chairperson of the NUJ FCT Council, described the housing initiative as a top priority for her administration, calling it “a long-overdue step toward dignity and security for journalists and their families.”
“Our aim is simple: to provide decent, affordable homes in the heart of the nation’s capital,” Ike said.
She also unveiled a series of planned projects including modernization of the NUJ Congress Hall, the acquisition of a union coastal bus, completion of the NUJ Pentagon Hall, and the creation of a journalists’ welfare scheme.
“These are not luxuries,” Ike said. “They are essential investments in the profession and in the well-being of those who make journalism possible.”
She called on government agencies, private sector partners, and media owners to support the union in achieving these goals.
The event brought together policymakers, media professionals, and civil society leaders, all united in the shared conviction that safeguarding the press is essential to the nation’s democratic future.
