The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Tuesday commenced the construction of a shopping mall in the Gwarinpa area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Addressing Journalists during the ground breaking ceremony organised by the FHA, its Chairman Board of Directors, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, said the construction of the stopping mall is to provide services to Nigerians.
He said the services would include additional business accommodation, stating that the construction will provide job opportunities for Nigerians.
He said: “Our mandate is to use every available land space to provide services to Nigerians. The available space that used to be our offices will become a shopping complex that will provide additional business accommodation for residents of Gwarinpa Estate. This seemingly small effort will provide various types of jobs for our teeming jobless Nigerians.
“I urge FHA management and our partners, Horizon Construction Company Limited, to keep to the scheduled timelines of completion as the days of uncompleted and abandoned projects are over in this country and this government does not tolerate waste.
” On the part of the board of directors, we will keep working with FHA management to attract all the necessary and needful support from government.”
Also speaking, the acting Managing director/CEO of FHA, Barrister Umar Salihu Gonto, said the agency thought it needful to include provision of commercial outlets to Nigerians, apart from constructing regular residential houses.
He said: “The ground breaking is the first of its kind in the history of the authority. We are stepping up the designed and well- intended diversification of our services to Nigerians to include provision of commercial outlets.
” The foundation laying of FHA shopping mall in Gwarinpa is a product of management’s decision, after extensive and exhaustive deliberation to erect a shopping complex serviced with all amenities that can compare to all modern standards.
“The decision to develop this hitherto office space was reached to help address the demand of modern commercial spaces of 3rd Avenue residents.
“The project is in partnership with Horizon Construction Company Limited, who are also undertaking all the financial aspects of the transaction, with the shopping complex designed on three floors and a pent floor.”
