Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister
“This project will be used as a model to implement other
upcoming PPP projects in the Federal Capital Territory such as the Abuja
Boulevard, the Central Parkand Botanical Gardens, Area 10 Mixed Development Complex amongst others”. .....Senator Mohammed |
Nigeria’s World Trade Centre comes alive in Abuja
Godwin Ukaa, Abuja
The sum of 156 billion Naira, which is equivalent to one billion dollars is expected
to be spent on the development of the on-going World Trade Centre at the Central
Business District, Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
An equivalent amount is expected from foreign investments from companies ready
to do business just like the World Trade Centre in New York, USA, when the
edifice is completed.
While inspecting the Multi-Billion-Naira project on Thursday, at the Constitution Avenue, Central Business District, Abuja,the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed said that the site is a 6.1 hectares of land strategically
positioned at the heart of the city adjacent to the main Abuja Transportation
Centre and Central Business terminal.
Public-Private partnership
He said that the project is a partnership between the FCT Administration and
the First Continental Properties Limited, a subsidiary of Churchgate Investment
Limited.
The Minister noted that work on the project commenced in March 2011 and that the
Phase I of the project will be completed between April and September 2013.
Senator Mohammed remarked that the project is a good example of a successful
Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) being encouraged by President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan.
According to him, “this project will be used as a model to implement other
upcoming PPP projects in the Federal Capital Territory such as the Abuja
Boulevard, the Central Parkand Botanical Gardens, Area 10 Mixed Development Complex amongst others”.
Senator Mohammed noted that the FCT Administration had already written to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to obtain a diplomatic status for the Abuja
World Trade Centre.
The Minister recalled that the FCT Administration in another giant stride had
entered into an agreement with the Balkan Group on the development of Abuja Down
Town with direct foreign capital inflow of 2.6 billion US dollars.
Employment
He therefore directed the Acting Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA,
Executive Secretary, Alhaji Kabiru Useni to ensure that technical staff were
posted to assist in maintaining the correct levels for the Circular Road and the
Railway station respectively as the project progressed.
In his Speech, the Group Managing Director of Churchgate Group Mr. Vinay Mahtani
said that the project will be built expeditiously by the Churchgate Construction
Company; noting that Phase I of the project will be completed in 2013.
Mr. Mahtani explained that the project had already provided employment to over
600 inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory and that the number would
increase as the project progressed.
The Minister was accompanied on the visit by the FCT Minister of State, Ms
Olajumoke Akinjide, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Biodun Nathaniel Olorunfemi
and a host of other top government functionaries in FCT Administration.
Iheanacho
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