Niger State partners Italian firm to build N8bn houses

The Niger State Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with an Italian firm, Italworks Nig. Ltd., for construction of 1,000 housing units at the cost of  N8 billion.

The General Manager, Niger State Housing Corporation, Mr Ahmed Abdullahi, made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking to newsmen in Minna.

He said that the project would be on a public/private partnership arrangement. Abdullahi said that the state government would provide 91 hectares of land in Paikoro Local Government Area on the Minna-Abuja Expressway, while Italworks would fund the project.

According to him, the project when completed will go a long way to address housing deficit in the state. “This is part of Gov. Abubakar Bello’s efforts in providing affordable houses for Niger people,’’ he said.

The Managing Director of Italworks, Mr  Gaetano Crisa, said that the project, to begin in July, would create employment for thousands of youths.
He said that the housing units will be two-bedroom and three-bedroom bungalows. Crisa gave the assurance that Italworks would construct quality and affordable houses.