The United States (U.S.) government, yesterday, said the ongoing construction of its new Consulate Compound at Eko Atlantic is contributing over $95 million to the local economy through employees, sub-contractors, and suppliers across Lagos State and Nigeria at large.

The U.S. government also revealed that the project stands as a tangible expression of the importance it places on its relationship with Nigeria.

It said that through the project, over 1,500 Nigerian workers had received training to the highest construction standards in the world, strengthening their competitiveness in the local labour market, long after the construction is complete.

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for West Africa and for Public Diplomacy, Richard Michaels, who spoke at the top-off ceremony yesterday, said the vision for the new Consulate Compound is to create a facility honouring the vibrant U.S.-Nigeria relationship.

He said the new Consulate Compound reflects cutting-edge construction and engineering techniques, built to the highest U.S. standards for design and construction, and standing as a lasting symbol of what the two nations can achieve together.

“This new compound demonstrates that America is investing in the future. And with commerce at the heart of our priorities, no place in Africa is better positioned than Nigeria, with Lagos as its economic hub, to drive shared prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic,” he further noted.

On his part, the Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Consul General, Brandon Hudspeth, who welcomed Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, senior government of Nigeria officials, members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, representatives of U.S. companies, and Nigerian alumni of U.S. government exchange programmes for the ceremonial pouring of the final bucket of structural concrete onto the roof of the 10-story Chancery building, stressed that the project represents the foundation for the next chapter of partnership between Nigeria and America.