Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr Shuaib Belgore, has stated that Nigeria had significant investment opportunities and remained open to partnerships capable of contributing to national development. This was contained in a statement signed by Badamasi Haiba, Fsca, mnipr, Director, Press and Public Relations.
Belgore stated this when he received a delegation from TEC Engineering on a courtesy visit to the Ministry.
He expressed the readiness of the Ministry to deepen engagement with TEC Engineering Company (Nigeria) Limited, a subsidiary of China Railway International Group, particularly in the areas of large-scale housing development, urban renewal and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
While welcoming the delegation, he also appreciated the TEC Engineering Company’s contributions to Nigeria, particularly its operations across several states and its employment of Nigerians.
Belgore explained that the Ministry was committed to providing affordable homes for Nigerians through different approaches, including direct construction, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and collaboration with private developers.
He said the Ministry was determined to make significant progress reducing the country’s housing deficit, estimated at about 15 million units over the next decade, adding that achieving this would require strong partnerships with the private sector.
While stating that the Ministry was particularly interested in engaging companies that had the capacity to deliver housing on a large scale, He welcomed the possibility of having further discussions with TEC Engineering, saying both sides could look into areas that would work for the company as well as the Ministry.
“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,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary also highlighted the Ministry’s urban renewal efforts, explaining that the focus was not only on providing houses but also on improving the infrastructure and living conditions within communities.
He mentioned the provision of roads, water, drainage, electricity, healthcare facilities, and other community infrastructure as part of the broader approach to urban renewal.
Speaking on TEC Engineering’s ongoing project in Kano, Belgore commended the company for the progress recorded so far. He acknowledged the delay in budgetary releases and encouraged the company to sustain the pace of work, assuring that the necessary provisions would be addressed.
He further welcomed the company’s interest in exploring other opportunities in Nigeria, noting that while railway development falls under the purview of the Ministry of Transport, TEC Engineering could also explore possible PPP opportunities in that sector.
He said Nigeria had significant investment opportunities and remained open to partnerships capable of contributing to national development.
Belgore also noted China’s experience in affordable housing and urban renewal, expressing openness to future technical discussions and knowledge sharing between both sides.
He assured the delegation of the Ministry’s willingness to engage further on areas where their interests and capabilities could align.
Earlier, 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, saying the company would continue to push forward with the work despite some challenges at the project site.
He said the visit was also an opportunity to discuss future areas of cooperation, particularly in urban infrastructure, underground ducts, wastewater, and sewage treatment.
He further disclosed that the company had implemented more than 80 projects across 12 states in Nigeria and currently had about 30 Chinese and over 500 Nigerian employees.
Accordingly, Jinxiang said the company had provided work opportunities for more than 10,000 people in local communities, adding that Nigeria remained an important market for the company.
He further expressed the company’s willingness to deploy its capacity and expertise to support Nigeria’s development, particularly in urban renewal and urban development.
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