After 11-year delay, Abuja Centenary City restarts with N750bn infrastructure deal

After an 11-year delay, the Abuja Centenary City project is set to take off with a multi-billion-naira infrastructure deal.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Ike Odenigwe, managing director (MD) of the Centenary City Plc, announced that Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has been engaged to execute the phase 1 primary infrastructure of the project for N750 billion.

Conceived in 2014 during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan to mark Nigeria’s centenary, the project was stalled by legal setbacks, revoked land titles and administrative delays.

Odenigwe said the contract would be executed in lots and would cover a 4.3 km access road as well as secondary infrastructure for three residential districts — Grove Residences, Safari Park Residences and Ridge Villas.

He said Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (DAR), the firm that prepared the original master plan, would handle the detailed engineering design.

He described the project as Abuja’s most ambitious urban renewal effort, noting that it was designed to attract global investment and function as a multifunctional lifestyle hub.

Odenigwe also praised Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), for his support of the renewed push for infrastructure development and economic diversification in Abuja.

He announced that the tallest building in sub-Saharan Africa would be constructed within the city.

He said 150 hectares of land had been earmarked for an entertainment park to serve Nollywood filmmakers, adding that the city would also host 13 branded international hotels.

“We are going to change the landscape of Abuja. This is a destination,” he said.

“Abuja has nothing concrete to show for tourism at the moment, so the idea of Centenary City is to complement what we have currently and compete with what is obtainable globally.”

He said the federal government has five percent equity in the project through Abuja Investments Company Ltd (AICL) and also holds a board seat.

He clarified that the city is being developed under a public-private partnership (PPP), with the land donated by the federal government.

Odenigwe said the company has maintained cordial relationships with surrounding communities and traditional rulers in the area.

He said Centenary City Plc had provided boreholes and initiated scholarship schemes for residents.

He added that 280 houses have been built so far for the original inhabitants around the area under the city’s resettlement scheme in Gude district, with a target of 857 houses.

He said the project would generate 50,000 jobs during construction and 250,000 employments when completed.

On the delays, he said policy inconsistency across successive governments was the major challenge.

“Whenever there is a change of government, policies don’t continue,” he said.

“But with the coming of this government, we have conquered the issue of policy inconsistency, because this government knows the economic value of this project.”

He praised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, noting that the government recognises the importance of attracting foreign direct investment.

“Nigeria needs foreign direct investment; our population is growing, and infrastructure is lagging behind,” he said.

“This government understands that there is an infrastructural gap.”