GEJ Unveils N3tn Centenary City Project

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday led other dignitaries to perform the ground-breaking and unveiling of the Abuja Centenary City Project.

This came as a former military Head of State, Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar (retd.), appealed to Nigerians to give peace a chance.

The cost of the economic project, situated at Airport Road, meant to commemorate the 100 years of the nation’s amalgamation was put at N2.976tn ($18.6bn).

Jonathan, in his remarks, described the project that was designed to cover 1,200 hectares of land, as a city of hope and elegance as well as a symbol of the nation’s unity.

He said no other sign could demonstrate the symbol of his administration’s determination of excellence than the city, which he said promises a unique and global standard in real estate project.

When completed, the President said the project would turn out to be a modern city where modern beauty would merge with architectural creativity.

He said his government’s determination was to make it a sustainable and viable economic project.

“We don’t want to build a city where everybody will have maiguard (security guards). We don’t want a city where everybody will dig their boreholes and where everybody will be buying generators,” he said.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, told the gathering that the city was not a housing project but strictly an economic project.

Anyim said the residential area that would be provided would only complement the business concerns.

He disclosed that a Dubai firm, Eagles Hills Properties, would develop the city at no cost to the government.

He said the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund Authorities had signed an agreement to co-invest with the firm.

Anyim described the project as revolutionary, visionary and transformational.