FG-backed Centenary City Begins Phase One Development

The management of Abuja Centenary City has announced the engagement of Messers Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to commence the provision of infrastructure for phase 1 of the Centenary City after over 10 years of legal and policy issues that delayed the commencement of work on the project.

“After a pause in the development and construction, the project is now back on track with the promise to redefine sub-Saharan Africa’s skyline and enhance Nigeria’s global standing in urban development,” Managing Director of Centenary City Plc, Dr Odenigwe Ike Michaels said at a press briefing to announce the commencement of construction work on the city in Abuja.

The Phase 1 primary infrastructure, which is to cost N750bn, will be executed in lots. Lot 1 includes the 4.3 km Plot Access Road and the Secondary Infrastructure of The Grove Residences, The Safari Park Residences, and The Ridge Villas. Also, Messers Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (DAR), which coordinated the city’s master plan, has been retained to execute the detailed engineering design of the entire project.

He stated that the idea of engaging the companies is to guarantee the development of the city according to the vision reflected in the original master plan. It’s a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project.

The Centenary City was conceptualized as the foremost Abuja Urban Renewable Project under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Michaels said the entire city would take 10 to 15 years to build. However, if the funds are available immediately, the project could still be completed within six years.

He said the project will create 150,000 construction jobs, with a capacity to create another 350,000 jobs when it’s entirely in operation, including those working in the hotels, malls, sports and entertainment centres. “It’s to celebrate the unity of North and South Nigeria,” he stated.

The federal government, through the Abuja Investment Company, has five per cent equity in the city and a position on its governing board.

Five communities under five emirates currently occupy parts of the land. The MD said his company is presently building a resettlement centre tagged ‘Centenary Resettlement Scheme’ as a permanent residence for the indigenous inhabitants in the Gude District of the Federal Capital Territory. Two hundred eighty houses have been built under the scheme. Dr. Michaels said his company has compensated everybody who had allocated land in the area.

Michaels said the City project presents an excellent opportunity to create value and raise Abuja’s profile – to encourage international investment in Abuja. ‘The project is designed to work in harmony with nature. The districts and communities are designed to fit in among the natural landscape, offering both an impressive downtown skyline and peaceful suburban living. The city is conceptualised as a truly multifunctional development that offers its residents a complete cosmopolitan lifestyle and serves as a tourism hub for the wider community, he said. The project “will complement what’s lacking in Abuja”.

Some of Centenary City’s key components include five-star hotels, luxury serviced apartments and residences, the International Commerce Centre (ICC), the Centenary International Convention Centre (CICC), the Mall of Africa, the Championship Golf Course and Golf Estate, the Championship Polo Courses and Polo Estate, Nigeria Park, Safari Park, and Industrial Park.

African Arts Museum, Entertainment District and Amusement Park, Various Healthcare and Educational facilities, and an extensive and broad variety of residential dwellings.

“We are delighted to acknowledge the visionary leadership of Barr. Nysom Wike, the Hon. Minister of FCT, who in his wisdom has encouraged masterly and sustainable development in FCT,” the MD stated, adding, “We are also delighted to acknowledge the unwavering support of the Hon. Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, who sees the true meaning of modern urban renewal in the project.

‘‘We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Julius Berger and DAR and are committed to working with their expert teams to begin and finalise the primary infrastructure of Centenary Economic City Free Zone in line with the Board of Directors’ vision to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure as well as seamless, safe and sustainable smart city solutions”.