President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially sworn in Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma as Nigeria’s new Minister of Housing and Urban Development.

The swearing-in ceremony took place on Friday at the State House in Abuja, shortly after Dr. Darma was cleared by the Senate. He replaces Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, who recently stepped down from the position.

During the brief ceremony, President Tinubu congratulated the new minister and acknowledged the significance of his appointment at a critical period in Nigeria’s development. He noted that the country requires capable and experienced individuals to drive progress in key sectors such as housing.

“You have a very rich and interesting background. As a leader, we need competent hands like yours,” the President said. He added that Dr. Darma’s past contributions in various roles demonstrate his capacity to deliver results, describing him as “a fitting peg in the right position.”

Tinubu also urged the new minister to remain committed and be prepared to serve in any capacity required for national development.

Dr. Darma brings a wealth of experience in engineering, administration, and public service. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree from the University of Liverpool and a PhD in Industrial Engineering from Atlantic International University in the United States. He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bayero University, Kano, and a Master’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Benin.

He is a member of professional bodies, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Nigerian Institute of Management.

In his public service career, Dr. Darma previously served as Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) between 2008 and 2012. He has also held several key positions in Katsina State, including Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, as well as Commissioner for Rural and Social Development.

Beyond government service, he has contributed to academia as a lecturer at Bayero University, Kano, and has published widely on governance and development issues.

Before his latest appointment, Dr. Darma served as President of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Human Development Centre in Katsina State.

His appointment is expected to bring renewed focus to Nigeria’s housing sector, which remains a key area in the country’s broader development agenda.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve a $516.3 million foreign syndicated loan to support the construction of the Sokoto–Badagry superhighway, a major infrastructure project under his administration.

The request was formally presented in a letter read during plenary on Thursday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. In the letter, the president sought the Senate’s resolution in line with Sections 16 and 21 of the Debt Management Office (Establishment) Act, 2011, which governs public borrowing.

According to the president, the loan will be sourced through Deutsche Bank AG and will be used to finance Sections 1, Phase 1A and 1B of the highway project.

The Sokoto–Badagry highway is a proposed 1,000-kilometre road designed to connect several states across the country, including Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos. The road will run from Illela in Sokoto State to Badagry in Lagos State, creating a major economic corridor across the nation.

President Tinubu described the project as a flagship initiative under his Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at improving national connectivity, reducing travel time, and boosting the movement of goods and services across regions.

He explained that the loan facility will be backed by a partial risk guarantee from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, while the Federal Government will provide counterpart funding of over ₦265 billion. The government’s contribution will cover land acquisition, compensation, and other related infrastructure costs.

The proposed loan is structured with a repayment period of nine years, including a three-year grace period. It carries an interest rate tied to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus 5.3 percent per annum.

Tinubu also noted that the financing plan has already received approval from the Federal Executive Council.

Following the presentation, Akpabio referred the request to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts for further legislative review, with a directive to report back within one week.

Speaking on the development, the Senate President expressed support for the borrowing plan, stating that securing loans for critical infrastructure projects such as highways is necessary to improve road safety and strengthen national integration.

John Azi, a graduate of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), has regained his freedom after spending 11 days in the hands of kidnappers.

Azi, who studied Early Childhood Education, was abducted on April 11, 2026, while travelling from Jos, Plateau State, to Zaria in Kaduna State.

According to his family, the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N30 million, which was later reduced to N5 million before rising again due to shifting demands. His elder brother, Bulus Azi, confirmed that the family eventually paid a total of N10.3 million in instalments to secure his release.

Bulus explained that the kidnappers kept increasing the ransom whenever news of the incident surfaced on social media, forcing the family to make multiple payments.

He said the victim was released in Zaria and given some medical attention before arrangements were made for his return to Jos. At the time of reporting, Azi was still on his way home, as the family had hired a driver from Kaduna to bring him back.

Despite informing the police, the family handled the negotiations independently, citing urgency to save his life.

As of now, the Plateau State Police Command has not issued an official statement regarding the incident.

Source: Cable