By Sulyman Gobir
The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development says it is open to strategic partnerships capable of supporting national development, particularly in large-scale housing delivery, urban renewal and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, stated this on Friday when he received a delegation from TEC Engineering Company (Nigeria) Limited, a subsidiary of China Railway International Group, on a courtesy visit to the Ministry.
Belgore said the Ministry was ready to deepen its engagement with TEC Engineering, noting that the company’s experience and capacity could be valuable in addressing Nigeria’s housing and urban infrastructure needs.
He said the Ministry was pursuing different approaches to increase access to affordable housing, including direct construction, PPPs and collaboration with private developers.
According to him, the Federal Government is committed to making significant progress in reducing the country’s housing deficit, estimated at about 15 million units, but stressed that achieving the target would require stronger collaboration with the private sector.
“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,” Belgore said.
The Permanent Secretary also explained that the Ministry’s urban renewal programme goes beyond the construction of houses to improving the overall living conditions and infrastructure in communities.
He listed roads, water supply, drainage systems, electricity, healthcare facilities and other community infrastructure as key components of the Ministry’s broader urban renewal strategy.
Belgore commended TEC Engineering for the progress recorded on its ongoing covered conduits and roads project in Kano State. He acknowledged challenges associated with delays in budgetary releases and encouraged the company to sustain the pace of work, assuring that necessary provisions would be addressed.
He also welcomed TEC Engineering’s interest in exploring additional investment opportunities in Nigeria, noting that although railway development falls under the Ministry of Transport, the company could explore possible PPP opportunities in the sector.
Belgore further acknowledged China’s experience in affordable housing and urban renewal, expressing the Ministry’s willingness to engage in technical discussions and knowledge-sharing initiatives with the company.
Earlier, the President of China Railway International Group, Zhao Jinxiang, who led the delegation, thanked the Ministry for entrusting TEC Engineering with the reconstruction of the covered conduits and roads project in Kano State.
Jinxiang assured that the company would continue to advance the project despite challenges at the site, adding that the visit was also aimed at discussing future areas of cooperation in urban infrastructure, underground ducts, wastewater and sewage treatment.
He disclosed that the company had implemented more than 80 projects across 12 states in Nigeria and currently employed about 30 Chinese and more than 500 Nigerian workers.
According to him, TEC Engineering had also created employment opportunities for more than 10,000 people in local communities, stressing that Nigeria remained an important market for the company.
Jinxiang expressed the company’s readiness to deploy its expertise and capacity to support Nigeria’s development, particularly in urban renewal and urban development.
