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Housing Deficit: FMBN Boss Pledges Efficient Mortgage System

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The new Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr Ahmed Dangiwa has pledged to evolve a mortgage financing regulatory system to provide solid foundation for housing finance in Nigeria.
Dangiwa made the pledge last Wednesday in Abuja at the official hand over from the outgoing Ag. Managing Director, FMBN, Mr Richard Esin.
He noted that the new management team would ensure that the regulatory system was effective and robust to protect interests of existing and prospective homeowners and Nigerians with respect to home ownership.
“Meeting the affordable mass housing needs to Nigeria remains a major challenge with estimated 17 million housing deficits in the country anticipated to cost almost N60 trillion.
“Innovative solutions must be put in place to bridge this large gap”, he added.
Dangiwa, who is an Architect, noted that from his experience in the mortgage banking over the years, there have been several challenges facing the sector, especially those specific to mortgage financing.
According to him, existence of a viable mortgage system which will strengthen home ownership for low-income earners is imperative for tackling the challenges facing the housing sector in Nigeria.
He said the bank would develop a “Mortgage Finance Change Agenda” that would serve as guiding compass into the housing reform agenda of the government.
Expressing gratitude to the Federal Government for the privilege bestowed on him and management team to serve, he promised to build a firm foundation for the future of the housing sector in Nigeria by repositioning the bank.
He, however, urged all stakeholders including the staff to think strategically outside the box in proffering financial solutions to the challenges
In his valedictory speech, Esin explained that in his tenure the bank embarked on self re-invention and reposition for the effective fulfillment of its mandate of promoting home ownership.
Esin stated that the re-invention was based on its four point agenda namely, corporate governance compliance, bank profitability, operational effectiveness and debt recovery.
He recalled that the bank recorded successes with N2.7 billion operating surplus in 2016 financial year, the first in over 20 years of the history of the bank from an accumulated loss position of  N43 billion.
Esin noted that National Housing Fund collections grew to N43 billion from a cash balance of N13 billion.
According to him, the bank created 1,303 mortgages within the last 15 months to the tune of N10.3 billion while use of biometric verification number was introduced in payment of refunds to retirees for transparency.
He said that the bank has also completed and commissioned eight housing estates nationwide in the first quarter of 2017 leading to the delivery of about 1,300 housing units to the national stock.
Appreciating the strong support of the senior management and all staff, he urged the staff to extend moral support and commitment to the new leadership.
Esin assumed leadership of FMBN on February 15, 2016 and served in that capacity until his disengagement on April 13, 2017.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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