11th July, 2013
The proposed new Abeokuta city centre planned to be built by Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration in Ogun State, southwest, Nigeria will significantly enhance the socio-economic growth of the State and attract international visitors to the Gateway State.
This was made known by Muhammed Hafiz, the Lead Urban Designer/ Project Director for Urbanisma, the Malaysian Consulting firm handling the design of the Master Plan for the centre.
He stated this Thursday morning in Putrajaya, the capital city of Malaysia when speaking in an interactive session with a visiting team from the Ogun State, where he gave a run-down of the design and actualisation of Putrajaya, the adorable new administrative Capital City of Malaysia.
Hafiz believed that the Abeokuta City Centre will be a major landmark that will not only be a source of inspiration and pride to the people of Ogun State but also create ample opportunities for local and foreign investors.
According to him, “a project of such magnitude will greatly spur the economy of the state in rural and urban areas as it will meet the interests of investors in diverse sectors of the economy.
“The Convention Centre, which is a major aspect of the project would attract world-wide patronage because of the international programmes that would be organised there. We have looked at the whole programme as a socio-economic generator that will have a place for various sectors of businesses, and we are guided by the five cardinal programme of the government of Ogun State which will give room for all the sectors to be fully integrated’’, he said.
Hafiz stated further that the Retail Centre for instance, would create space for small retail outlets as well as cater for big shopping malls.
He revealed that the first phase of the project will include, Shopping Mall, Recreation Centre, Signature Tower, offices, hotels and the Convention Centre, which he noted would kick start development.
Speaking on the New Government City project, which is also being handled by his firm, Hafiz said it will give priority to housing and industrial development, adding that it will feature complete infrastructure which will make Ogun State, a investors destination of choice for businesses in the upstream or downstream industry and also accommodate migrants from neighbouring Lagos State.
—Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta