Funded by local and foreign financial institutions, as well
as private investors, to the tune of N200bn ($1bn), the WTC Abuja will be the
largest mixed-use development in West Africa. The centre will be home to luxury
offices, serviced apartments, a hotel, a leisure centre and convention
facility. The capital Mall located at the centre will house an array of shops,
boutiques, restaurants as well as recreational facilities such as a cinema and
bowling alley.
Adekunle Salau, Ernst & Young Advisory Leader for West
Africa, told CNN; "My expectation is that if this is executed to plan,
Abuja will be able to host world class conferences and compete favourably with
Johannesburg and Cape town for international events. It may also moderate the
cost of hotels and rents in Abuja, but more importantly it should add
significantly to the economic development of the capital, creating employment
in the service and retail sectors.''
"The downside is that it can also be artificially
priced,thereby continuing heat up the already high cost of Abuja properties and
secondly, the amenities may not be developed to the quality expected from the
WTA brand," said Salau.
While commending the former administration for conceiving
and initiating such a laudable Project, it is my hope that the incumbent
administration would not only commission this project, but would take concrete
steps to conceive and initiate similar legacy projects for the overall benefit
of the people. Government is a continuum. :)
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