Nigeria To Host UN Conference On Housing, Sustainable Urban Development

Nigeria will host the Third Regional Meeting for the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) from Feb. 24 to 26 in Abuja.

Mr. Oluseyi Soremekun, UN National Information Officer, who confirmed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the conference would commence with a high-level Ministerial segment on February 24 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Soremekun said the conference was vital to the future of Africa and its citizens.

He said the conference was one of the regional consultative meetings scheduled to hold ahead of Habitat III, scheduled to take place in Quito, Ecuador from Oct. 17 to 20.
The UN official said the Africa Regional Meeting would deliberate on the best ways to consolidate Africa’s Common Position on Habitat III.

He said the conference would also deliberate on how to achieve common goals and discuss Africa’s priorities within the context of a new global urban agenda and how it fits into the Africa Agenda 2063 Vision.

“The Habitat III conference will discuss the New Urban Agenda that will drive the housing and urban development debate and policies for another 20 years.

“Half of the world’s population today live in cities, compared to less than five per cent a century ago.
“Projections hold that by 2050, 70 per cent of the world’s population, representing 6.4 billion people, will be living in cities.

“With 95 per cent of this expansion taking place in developing countries, mostly in Asia and Africa, there is now more than ever, the need to address rapid urbanisation in a sustainable way.

“In this context, Habitat III offers a unique opportunity for global discussions on human settlements and urbanisation,” he said.
Soremekun said expected UN dignitaries at the occasion included Dr Joan Clos, Secretary- General of Habitat III, Executive Director of the UN-Habitat) and Under Secretary- General of the UN.

He said others are Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director, UN Population Fund and Under-Secretary-General of the UN, and Dr Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa.

The UN official said Ms Aisa Kacyira, Deputy Executive Director, UN-Habitat and Assistant Secretary-General of UN would also be present at the occasion. (NAN)