Stories by Francis Adinoyi Kadiri
Abuja
A Chinese Firm, Power China Beijing has said it would partner with the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to build 10,000 housing units for low income earners in Nigeria.
The Vice-President of the Chinese firm, Mr Lei Xu, made the announcement when he visited the minister, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi in Abuja.
He said that the presence of the company had been felt in major cities of the world and that the company had come to replicate the same in Nigeria, adding that the company is willing to collaborate with the ministry to provide houses for low income earners to bridge the gap in the housing sector just like it did in China.
“We want to invest and contribute to the development of Nigeria, especially in the housing sector by providing affordable housing and our focus is the low income earners.
According to him, the first phase of the project will begin with 10,000 houses and subsequently, other phases will be embarked upon in which the numbers of homes will increase, and also extend it to middle income earners.
“We are very comfortable and confident with the real estate sector in Nigeria and we hope we can duplicate the Chinese experience here,” he said.
Xu further said that there was a bright prospect in the Nigerian housing sector and expressed optimism that the company would extend the partnership in the future.
He urged the ministry to give the company the needed support on the project and teach them the principles and guidelines of the Nigerian housing sector for optimal productivity.
Eyakenyi, who was represented by Mr George Ossi, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry commended the company for the initiative.
She said that Nigeria and China had always had cordial relationship, adding that the two countries had partnered in many sectors.