Firm kick-starts $68m Abuja Novare gateway mall

In a renewed vigour to increase Nigeria’s foreign direct investment, Messrs Novare Real Estate Africa has commenced the construction of a $68 million Novare Gateway Mall in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The project by Gray-Bar Alliance Limited, scheduled to open for business in August 2017 comes as a special purpose vehicle of Novare Real Estate Africa and boost of over 25,000 square meters of leasable space.

Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony, FCT Alhaji Minister Musa Bello said that the construction of the mall, underscores the present administration’s policy to bring more investment into Abuja, create employment and increase economic activities.

The minister assured that the FCT administration would give all the support required to successful completion of the project and urged that developer to key into the programme of making Abuja a green city by adopting a garden where it can plant trees as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

Bello urged the developer to promote local content policy of government, warning that government would not like a situation whereby every item would be imported.

He said: “We will not like a situation where everything is imported especially vegetables and fruits. Most of the vegetables and fruits grown here are organically produced and of best standards, all you need to do is to work on packaging.”

The minister commended Gray-Bar Alliance Limited and Novare Real Estate for partnering with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and for undertaking such valuable investment and pledged the support of the Federal Capital Territory to the project.

Chairman of Gray-Bar Alliance Limited, Professor Fabian Ajogwu stated that the mall transcends financial value and will create over 5,000 jobs through direct employment from the development stage until completion and commencement of operation.

Ajogwu observed that Novare Real Estate Africa currently operates the Apo Mall (previously known as Grand Towers Mall, Abuja) and is also undertaking a number developments, including the Lekki-Mall in Lagos, which is scheduled to open its doors to customers on June 30, 2016.