President lays foundation stone of Abuja downtown mall

President Olusegun Obasanjo on 30 September laid the foundation for the Abuja Downtown Mall, which is a significant step in the efforts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration to develop the territory.

The President acknowledged that the event speaks volumes of the value of democracy in providing opportunities for every member of the society for self-actualisation.

He also commended the FCT Administration for providing trading spaces for those who need them, which is in keeping with the aspiration of National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS), which among others is geared towards poverty alleviation.

The President expressed delight that the shopping mall is located close to a railway station, as it would help traders, especially farmers to transport their goods to those who need them in the metropolis of Abuja as well as find easy means of going back to their destinations.

He commiserated with the traders over the fire incident that engulfed the former Bakasi Market in May this year, adding that a planned modern market is better prepared for eventualities like fire disasters than a make-shift structure.

The President also used the occasion to congratulate all Nigerians on the country’s 45th Independence Anniversary and thanked the Almighty God for keeping the country united.

nigeriafirst.org (http://www.nigeriafirst.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=1&num=4834)

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Name: Downtown Abuja Project
City/Country: Abuja/Nigeria
Use: Commericial
Status: U/C since sept. 2005


P.S: This project is being handled by Abujaproperty& Co. (www.abujapropertyco.com) an it is ongoing. But is designed by Chaccour Architects. (www.chaccour-construction.com)

The project consists of 13 Highrises in the Central District of Abuja, as well as Shopping Centres and Hotels etc.

Abuja Downtown Mall - A mega Mall for more than $250 Million US Dollar is under construction

http://www.alphapropertyng.com/images/featured_dev.jpg


Name: Abuja Downtown Mall
City/Country: Abuja/Nigeria
Use: Retail
Status: U/C

Information
Quote:
Abuja Downtown Mall
The Abuja Downtown Mall is a mega mall located in the heart of the Central Business District of Abuja. The development is being done on 11 hectars of land. It features amongs others a 5-Star hotel, Cinemas, Restaurants, Retail outlets etc.

Features

* Architectural Masterpiece
* 11 Hectars of Land
* 5-Star Hotel


Facilities

* 5-Star Hotel
* Retail Outlets
* Cinemas
* Restaurants
* Bank
* Salons
* Sports & Recreational Facilities

1. How tall are those adjacent Towers going to be?

2. How many stores will be there?

It's been under construction since 2005 (4 years), what stage of construction is it in?

It's a good mixed-use facility.Underconstruction for the past four years? That is slow, men!

It's a good mixed-use facility.Underconstruction for the past four years? That is slow, men!

I totally agree with your last statement. I've said it many times on here alread; Nigerian construction pace is unacceptably SLOW AS HELL! Here in the US, a company would never give a contract to a company who told them that it'll take as long as these projects in Naija are taking to get completed to complete their project. :ohno:

It's not the comapanies fault. Ships now have to go out of their trade routes to get things to Nigeria, because Nigeria is not a very large market (In comparison to Brazil, North America, South Africa and Europe.)

plus we don't know the full details of the project. For all we know the project could include an under ground mall, not saying it does.

Another thing i notice is the location. "The President expressed delight that the shopping mall is located close to a railway station, as it would help traders, especially farmers to transport their goods to those who need them in the metropolis of Abuja as well as find easy means of going back to their destinations." The same train station were the 50-storey tower will be built. Maybe this it the mall they were talking about. Anyway its a nice addition to the skyline.

It's been under construction since 2005 (4 years), what stage of construction is it in?

Were not sure, that’s why we need more Nigerian based forumers, helping to take pictures of the projects and their local city.

It's not the comapanies fault. Ships now have to go out of their trade routes to get things to Nigeria, because Nigeria is not a very large market (In comparison to Brazil, North America, South Africa and Europe.)
Are you sure of this? So, why is the government tryinh to build more Free Trade Zones? Can you tell us,Abidrovia,plz

I totally agree with your last statement. I've said it many times on here alread; Nigerian construction pace is unacceptably SLOW AS HELL! Here in the US, a company would never give a contract to a company who told them that it'll take as long as these projects in Naija are taking to get completed to complete their project. :ohno:
It's usually not the contractors' fault. Contractors work apace with a payment schedule, and unfortunately most of these projects are announced or launched even before all of the financing are lined-up.

it´s really tooo sloooow..moreover, projects like these should be the norm for any Nigerian city that has more than 500 000 inhabitants...just look at China.pprojects liek these are mushrooming allover China, please guy have a look at Asian forums. I want all this in Nigeria, TOO!!!

I used to think the slow pace of Nigerian projects construction was frugality not knowing that they lack the need to execute them for the benefit of the ordinary citizens.

I used to think the slow pace of Nigerian projects construction was frugality not knowing that they lack the need to execute them for the benefit of the ordinary citizens.

That and, I'm sorry to say it.. but I believe a lot of it also has to do with a severe lackadaisical attitude of the Nigerian worker. At least in these type of manual labor type jobs, in which come in play in the actual process of getting the projects built.

I've been told that a lot of the contractors, foreign and domestic, have been complaining hysterically about how their Nigerian workers have been very incompetent workers; many are always late to work, the drivers who transport supplies from the ports to the job sites are always late with their deliveries, many workers are hired to only have to be fires just a few days later after finding out that they lied about being able to do the work in which they were hired to do. Many workers are always late to get back to work after taking their breaks and or simply don't come back to work after breaks some days.

Another big thing is work speed or time management of the local workers. Many foreign contractors have complained that the local workers are not being very productive when they do work; the contractors tell them that they need such and such amount of work done each day, and the workers often only get half or a quarter of that much done sometimes.

All of this has over time added into the the reasoning behind why many contractors give these exuberantly long completion dates knowing ahead of time how the local workers would perform for them.

Now all of this is hearsay on my part, so I can't say for a fact that all or any of this is true, though it would make sense in regard to seeing how slow construction in Naija is.

The stereotypical overgeneralizations continue. :ohno:

its taken 4 years so far? flip thats a long time. It looks like a decent enough project, i'm surprised though that there are not anymore details available. Things like how many m2 is it? what is the composition? From the looks of things the residential dominates. the retail doesnt look too big.

As many of you have said, it would be great to have people on the ground in your country.

Close to my work place here in London, there is this construction that has been going on for about 14 months now.(I have been counting) Guess what? There are 2 of this buildings with ten floor each and as I write they are still doing the finishings.

Now to the Abuja downtown mall, the last time I took a look at the renders, there were 13 blocks of about 15 storeys each, nobody on here can confidently stand up and say this is the stage at which this project is at the moment and all we hear is moanings upon moanings about the ''slow'' pace of Nigerian projects.

Let's stop dreaming and face reality

Sammy77, I would not call this maoning if I were you . It's Nigerians that need the developmental project the most - the time is important as the project too to the people and the nation.You cannot compare developed countries that already have 80 percent of its development fixed to Nigeria which has a long way to go.That's why the time is very important, Sammy77.

I will rather prefer they take their time than rush over ongoing projects and end up with some shoddy job

^ +1.

What's with all the cynicism in this forum lately?

I will rather prefer they take their time than rush over ongoing projects and end up with some shoddy job
Time is important, Sammy77, when talking about development for Nigeria to to meet this millenium dev.goal.It may sound stupid but that's the truth businessmen like to invest in countries with better infrastructure and Nigeria is seeing it best dev. and must do it fast. Though, on the other hand it shouldn't be forced on any nation.

Frankly, I do not believe that much has happened with respect to the Abuja Downtown Mall project -- unless there is another project proceeding under the same name.

As far as I personally know, the promoters of the official Abuja Downtown Mall project, the Abuja Investments Company Limited (which is the principal investment agency of the Federal Capital Territory Administration), were still calling for "EOIs (Expressions of Interest) to Develop the Abuja Downtown Mall" with a submission deadline of March 13, 2009.

It may well be that the rendered project on this thread is an entirely different 'Abuja Downtown Mall' project (that I personally have not yet come across in Abuja). But as I previously noted to Nsukka on this thread, sometimes these projects are announced and/or launched with much fanfare, without even the basics (much less the financing) fully in place.

But as I previously noted to Nsukka on this thread, sometimes these projects are announced and/or launched with much fanfare, without even the basics (much less the financing) fully in place.

Now that's just down right retarded. :ohno:

Any photo update,plz?

Abuja Downtown Mall -Call for Expression of Interest!!!

1. BACKGROUND
Abuja Investments Company Ltd (AICL) is the principal investment agency of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) incorporated as a limited liability company to facilitate and engender commercial activity in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The Abuja Downtown Mall Project is a proposed development of a multi-functional commercial facility with provisions for high-street shopping and associated activities, traditional shopping, hospitality, entertainment and passive recreation, alongside quality office accommodation in a world-class, landmark facility that will set the standard for future Central Area developments.

The project is located at the 6.4Ha designated Central Market site of the City Master Plan in the Central Business Area that is strategically positioned at the heart of the City on the main Constitution Avenue leading directly into the City from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and adjacent to the future City Main Rail Station, as well as, the Central Bus Terminal.

In this regard, AICL has prepared a development concept for which it now invites expressions of interest from prospective partners for joint development and/or investment.

2. OBJECTIVE
The objective of the project is to capitalize on the site’s unique and strategic location, and the ever growing demand for prime shopping, commercial and entertainment space in the fastest growing capital city in Africa, and provide top of the line services to domestic and international visitors and attractive returns to investors.

3. PROJECT FEATURES
In line with the larger Abuja Boulevard development plan, the Land Use for the designated site is for mix-use commercial development and interested parties are required to indicate their competence in each of the specific areas, as well as, their integration into a fluid whole in their submission of EOI:

 Hospitality and Leisure: a vibrant multi-use, multi-cultural activity centre that offers a clean, safe and distinct urban experience including a hotel, restaurants/food courts, clubs, theatre, etc;

 Retail: a diversity of retail types that provides for a range of income levels and that serves local, regional and national markets;

 Corporate Offices: to support the development of global, national or regional headquarters for corporations and entities;

 Accommodation: in the form of serviced and/or short-stay facilities for mid- to high-income individuals; and,

 Parking: in line with the City demands and provisions, adequate multi level parking must be provided for all manner of vehicles that may use the facilities.


abujainvestments.com (http://www.abujainvestments.com/news_one.php?article=14)

I'm starting to think that the 50 storey mall and the abuja down town mall are the same project..... here are two quotes from both projects.


Abuja Downtown Mall

The project is located at the 6.4Ha designated Central Market site of the City Master Plan in the Central Business Area that is strategically positioned at the heart of the City on the main Constitution Avenue leading directly into the City from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and adjacent to the future City Main Rail Station, as well as, the Central Bus Terminal.

50 Storey Mall

Though the cost of the project was not disclosed, the minister said that the multi-billion-naira shopping mall with twin towers would be located at the Constitution Avenue, beside the proposed Abuja Transportation Centre in the Central Business District.

......THERE IS NO POINT BUILDING TWO MEGA PROJECT NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND SERVE THE SAME PURPOSE, UNLESS THEY ARE THE SAME PROJECT.....


HERES A PICTURE OF A CONCEPT OF THE DOWNTOWN MALL....WHICH "COINCIDENTALLY" HAS A TALL TOWER.

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Abuja Downtown Mall -Call for Expression of Interest!!!


abujainvestments.com (http://www.abujainvestments.com/news_one.php?article=14)
This stuff is dated. The EOIs closed in March (see my post above), and it appears that the response was lukewarm (so it may be re-opened).

Nothing more than information on the line of proposal available on the abuja investment website. On the other hand, I am a bit skeptical of the timing.

When I first heard about the Project they said it was under construction and that was years ago....

When I first heard about the Project they said it was under construction and that was years ago....
Mr. Obasanjo laid the "foundation stone" in 2006, but I don't think anything much else has happened since then.

Mr. Obasanjo laid the "foundation stone" in 2006, but I don't think anything much else has happened since then.

Alright that would explain it. It is indeed a major project sponsored by the Government and it is quite surprising that a project that is expected to be one of Abuja's 'if i dare say world class' retail opportunities; is actually not gathering the Investor interest required. It is mentioned in a litter of Abuja Investment Websites yet nothing coming to fruition. Projects with less backing find their way to the surface.

Don't we think the present administration has something to do with the halt of so many projects started by his predecessor? The blame largely rest on the present regime.