The Nigerian Senate on Thursday commenced the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominee for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma.

Darma was ushered into the Senate chamber at about 12:32 pm, where he appeared before lawmakers as part of the constitutional process for ministerial confirmation.

At the time of reporting, senators had already begun questioning the nominee on his qualifications, policy direction, and plans for addressing Nigeria’s housing challenges if confirmed.

The screening followed a formal request sent by President Tinubu to the Senate on Wednesday, seeking approval for Darma’s appointment as a federal minister.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter during plenary and referred it to the Committee of the Whole for consideration, directing that the process be handled expeditiously.

Muttaqha Darma, a trained mechanical engineer and graduate of Bayero University Kano, is expected to bring technical expertise to the Housing and Urban Development Ministry, a sector widely seen as key to addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit and rapid urban growth.

However, his nomination has also attracted attention due to past political controversies. In 2023, Darma, who served as deputy governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), was expelled from the party after allegedly endorsing an opposition candidate at a meeting described as unauthorised.

Despite this, his appointment is viewed by some observers as part of the Tinubu administration’s effort to bring in technocrats with sector-specific experience into key ministries.

The Senate is expected to continue the screening process and make a decision on his confirmation in the coming days.