Local industries key to housing, economic growth – Minister Ata
The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, has said that the growing investments in local building materials are crucial to driving national economic growth and supporting the federal government’s housing agenda.
Speaking during a weekend tour of industrial facilities in Lagos and Ogun States, Ata praised the surge in domestic production of building materials, describing it as a sign of growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s economy.
“The growth of building materials industries is a clear indication that investors have heeded the Federal Government’s call to invest heavily in Nigeria, and this gesture is yielding fruitful outcomes,” the Minister said.
He noted that such industrial expansion directly supports the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, especially in the housing sector, where access to affordable, locally produced materials is essential for project sustainability and job creation.
While visiting the Hwani Industrial Complex in Shagamu and Abule Owu in Ogun State, Ata highlighted the facility’s large-scale production of building materials and equipment as a critical asset in meeting Nigeria’s housing needs.
“Large-scale industrial complexes like Hwani will have a positive economic impact—generating revenue, creating jobs, and reducing youth restiveness,” he stated, while calling for the replication of similar initiatives across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
The Minister expressed satisfaction with the complex’s modern machinery and manufacturing capacity, noting its potential to reduce import dependence, increase government revenue, and promote inclusive economic growth.
During the facility tour, the Managing Director of Hwani Group and Jomoo Nigeria Limited, Mr. Chen Dibau, commended the Minister’s visit and reiterated the company’s commitment to producing durable, affordable household building materials. He added that the company’s large-scale production capability could serve not just Nigeria, but also the wider West African sub-region.
