THE China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation is currently engaging over 1,650 indigenous workers for the construction of roads, malls and other construction projects in Kaduna State.

According to the Chinese construction giant, over 1,700 employees were working on various project sites in the northern state, as it noted that most of the workers were Nigerians.

The General Manager, CCECC, Kaduna State, Kelvin Tian, told journalists that his firm had recorded tremendous progress working with Nigerian construction workers.

He said, “We are engaging more than 1,700 workers for the projects. Most of the employees for these projects are Nigerians. Chinese staff involved in the projects are less than 50.

“The total number of staff is over 1,700 and the Chinese workers form a very small portion of the engagements. So, most of the construction activities on these projects are done by Nigerian workers and the working relationship has been smooth.

Tian said the construction firm had developed schemes to encourage workers in order to put in their best at work, as CCECC had been providing incentives, particularly to outstanding workers.

“We give out additional salaries annually to about 20 per cent of the workforce to reward them for their hard work and the skills they they deploy while carrying out their duties and assignments,” he stated.

On the progress made in the projects being handled by the construction firm, Tian said CCECC had recorded about 80 per cent completion rate in some of the projects in Kaduna.

He said. “All together, we have about eight projects in Kaduna State. The road projects form the biggest and we have done more than 80 per cent work on some of them.

“The N4bn mall is the second and there are other smaller projects that we are handling in the state. We promise to deliver on these projects and make sure our partners are satisfied with our outputs.”

The Kaduna State Government had earlier confirmed working with CCECC in the construction of its N4bn Galaxy Mall in the state capital.

The Managing Director, Kaduna Market Development and Management Company, Muhammed Bayero, said the state was targeting an Internally Generated Revenue of N1.6bn from the mall.

He said the mall, which was about 50 per cent completed, would attract investments to the state capital and would house multiple businesses.