10 things to know about new Housing Minister, Darma

President Bola Tinubu on Friday sworn in Muttaqha Darma as the new Minister of Housing and Urban Development to replaced Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, who recently resigned.

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Below are 10 things to know about the new Housing Minister

Muttaqa Rabe Darma is a Nigerian engineer, academic, and politician from Katsina State. He was born on July 23, 1966, in Katsina City, Katsina State, Nigeria.

He has served as a university lecturer, state commissioner, and Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund. He is currently involved in politics and education leadership.

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Bayero University Kano, a Master of Business Administration from the same university, and a Master of Engineering in Production from the University of Benin.

He also has two PhDs and law degrees from institutions in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

He served as Commissioner for several ministries in Katsina State, including Women Affairs, Rural Development, and Works, Housing and Transport.

He was also Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund at the federal level and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management.

During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of polytechnics and research centres, upgraded university programmes, built the PTDF headquarters, and facilitated training for over 5,000 Nigerians in oil and gas related fields abroad.

He has been active in politics for decades. He contested various offices and served as deputy governorship candidate for the New Nigeria Peoples Party in 2023.

In 2026, he declared his candidacy for the Katsina Central Senatorial seat under the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 elections.

Dr Darma founded the Pleasant Library and Book Club, which promotes literacy and education. He has authored over 40 books and supported student sponsorship programmes in Katsina State.