President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday unveiled the N2.4 trillion Abuja Centenary City project and performed the ground breaking ceremony of the project meant to commemorate Nigeria’s 100 years of amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914.
Jonathan who described the project as a city of hope, elegant and a symbol of the nation’s unity, said the project promises a unique and global standard in real estate project.
According to him, no other sign could demonstrate the symbol of his administration’s determination for excellence than the Centenary City.
When completed, Jonathan said, the project would be a modern city where beauty and architectural creativity would fuse, stressing that his administration was determined to make it a sustainable and viable economic project.
“We don’t want to build a city where everybody will have maiguard (security man). We don’t want a city where everybody will dig their bore holes and where everybody will be buying generators,” Jonathan said.
Former military Head of State and Chairman of Centenary City Plc, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, urged Nigerians to give peace a chance, stressing that it is only when peace reigns in all parts of the country that projects can be successful.
“It is only when there is peace that the project can be successful. It is the duty of everyone of us to make sure that we maintain peace in the county.”
Abubakar said the feasibility and environmental studies had been completed, adding that the project was planned in three phases that would be completed within 10 years.
The former military leader said N1.2 billion, being the 100 per cent compensation, had been paid on the economic trees belonging to the original inhabitants and the structures belonging to some non-indigenes in the area.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said the city is not a housing project but an economic project adding that the residential area, which would be provided, would only complement the business concerns.
Anyim said that Dubai firm, Eagles Hills Properties, would develop the city at no cost to the government, stressing that the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund authorities have signed an agreement to co-invest with the firm on the project.
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