El-Rufai explains reasons for delay in construction of N3.9b Kaduna City Mall

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai yesterday said the delay in construction of the world standard city mall in Kaduna was occasioned by a change of the original site to a more central place in the metropolis.

The governor, who spoke at the contract signing and groundbreaking ceremony for the Kaduna Galaxy Mall held at the Murtala Muhammed Square, said the mall is an N3.9 billion project under a public-private partnership between the state government, Amsalco, a private firm and the United Bank for Africa (UBA).

He said the contractors had been given 18 months to deliver the mall.

“Having a decent mall in a city is a quality of life issue, giving people more options for shopping and relaxation. But a mall also expands economic opportunity for farmers, suppliers, sellers and the workers that will be recruited to build it and to run the facilities therein. Therefore, we expect that this project will be completed on schedule.

“The dream of a Galaxy Mall was once aborted. We have revived it with a new investment structure and partners. Let all do their duty so that it can become a viable living reality.

“We recently unveiled a package of road construction projects to improve connections within Kaduna City by paving new roads and upgrading existing ones. An important dimension of the urban renewal programme is the provision of facilities for recreation, including parks, green areas, and shopping amenities.

“I am especially delighted that we are today taking a major step to deliver the Kaduna Galaxy Mall. The contract signing and groundbreaking ceremony we perform today bring closer to realisation a project that has suffered unfortunate delays.

“Since we unveiled the road projects, Kaduna residents will have noticed that work has commenced on developing a new Centenary Park opposite the Government House. That park is being developed on the site initially earmarked for the Galaxy Mall project we launched in partnership with the UAC Property Development Company (UPDC) in 2016. That dream was painfully aborted.

“But we have since that setback considered options for building a mall to maximise the retail opportunities in Kaduna, improve the shopping experience for our people and provide facilities like cinemas and restaurants.

“I wish to commend the Kaduna Markets Development and Management Agency (KMDMC) for creatively discharging its responsibility under our Urban Renewal Programme. They have structured this N3.9bn project as a public-private partnership between the Kaduna State Government, Amsalco, a private firm and the United Bank for Africa. I have no doubt that this structure will deliver the mall within the envisaged 18 months.

“The Kaduna Galaxy Mall is being built on four hectares of land and will have 7,491 square metres of lettable space. Upon completion, the mall will have space for one major anchor tenant, three cinemas, six restaurants, 48-line shops and over 360 car parking bays.

“The mall will be constructed by CCECC Nigeria Limited, our partners in the Urban Renewal Programme, which includes the dualisation of WAFF Road, the main access road to the mall”.