President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Muttaqha Rabe Darma as the new Minister of Housing and Urban Development, replacing Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, who recently resigned.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the development in a statement on Friday.
Here are 10 things to know about the new Housing Minister:
1. Muttaqha Rabe Darma is a Nigerian engineer, academic, and politician from Katsina State. He was born on July 23, 1966, in Katsina.
2. He has served as a university lecturer, state commissioner, and Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund.
3. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from Bayero University Kano.
4. He also obtained a Master of Engineering in Production from the University of Benin.
5. Darma holds two PhDs and law degrees from institutions in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
6. He served as commissioner in several ministries in Katsina State, including Women Affairs, Rural Development, and Works, Housing, and Transport.
7. As Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, he oversaw infrastructure projects, training programmes, and the development of research centres, including training opportunities for thousands of Nigerians in oil and gas-related fields.
8. He has been active in politics for decades and served as deputy governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in the 2023 elections.
9. In 2026, he declared his intention to contest for the Katsina Central Senatorial seat under the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections.
10. He founded the Pleasant Library and Book Club, promoting literacy and education, and has authored more than 40 books while supporting student sponsorship programmes in Katsina State.