Housing ministry seeks partnership with Chinese firm to tackle deficits

The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has expressed readiness to deepen its partnership with TEC Engineering Company Nigeria Limited, in large-scale housing development, urban renewal and other infrastructure projects.

This was contained in a release issued on Friday by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Badamasi Haiba.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, said this while receiving a delegation from the company on a courtesy visit in Abuja.

Belgore said Nigeria remained open to investments and partnerships capable of supporting national development, particularly in efforts to address the country’s housing deficit.

He said the Ministry was exploring different approaches to provide affordable housing for Nigerians, including direct construction, Public-Private Partnerships and collaboration with private developers.

According to him, the federal government was targeting significant progress in reducing Nigeria’s estimated housing deficit of about 15 million units over the next decade.

Belgore said, “Achieving the target would require stronger collaboration with private sector players with the capacity to deliver housing projects on a large scale.

“We are looking at entities who want to build very large volumes of houses in Nigeria, and we are looking into that. Perhaps we can even look further into this kind of discussion with your company.”

Urban renewal programme, he said, went beyond the construction of houses, adding that the government was also focused on improving infrastructure and living conditions in communities.

He listed roads, water supply, drainage, electricity, healthcare facilities and other social infrastructure as key components of the urban renewal programme.

Speaking on TEC Engineering’s ongoing project involving the reconstruction of covered conduits and roads in Kano state, Belgore commended the company for the progress recorded so far.

He acknowledged delays in budgetary releases and urged the company to sustain the pace of work, assuring that necessary provisions would be addressed.

Earlier, the President of China Railway International Group, Zhao Jinxiang, thanked the ministry for awarding TEC Engineering the Kano reconstruction project.

Jinxiang said the company would continue to push ahead with the project despite challenges at the site.

He said the visit was also aimed at exploring future areas of cooperation with the ministry, particularly in urban infrastructure, underground ducts, and waste-water and sewage treatment.