The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed its preparedness to enter into a public-private partnership with private investors, in order to address the housing needs of citizens.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, hinted reporters of the government’s plan shortly after inspecting some housing projects in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

He said the government was exploring options aimed at delivering houses to Nigerians, especially in the northeast region.

The Minister added that the government would continue to provide a level playing ground for private investors to take advantage of the opportunities in the housing sector.

Meanwhile, he said investigation had commenced into the cause of the collapsed building in Gwarinpa, a town in the Federal Capital Territory.

After a visit to the scene, Mr Fashola explained that the collapse might have occurred as a result of poor quality control or lack of professionalism.

He appealed to construction workers to industrialise their cement mixing process for safety purposes.

The four-storey building under construction had collapsed in the early hours of Monday.

Six people have been rescued from the rubble so far and two others are still trapped, the Emergency Management Agency in the state said.

Two of the rescued persons hospitalised have been discharged.

The incident is the second in less than one week. A building had on August 24 collapsed in Apo Mechanic Village in the same city. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Fashola.

Update news