ABUJA, Nigeria – In a bid to jumpstart the long-stalled $18.5 billion Abuja Centenary City project, the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, May 7, established a seven-member ad-hoc committee to investigate the persistent delays and propose solutions to ensure the project’s completion.
The ambitious project, initiated in 2014 to mark 100 years since Nigeria’s amalgamation, was envisioned to transform an area of Abuja into a modern urban center akin to Dubai. However, a decade later, the project has yet to be completed, prompting the Senate’s intervention.
The committee is tasked with reviewing the original public-private partnership agreement that underpins the project.
The Senate has empowered the committee to recommend necessary amendments to the agreement to remove any barriers that have hindered progress and to ensure the project proceeds swiftly and effectively.
During the plenary session, the motion titled “Urgent need to revive and complete the stalled Centenary City Project, to realize its economic and development potential” was introduced by Deputy Senate Leader, Ashiru Yisa (APC – Kwara South).
Senator Yisa emphasized the substantial economic and developmental benefits that the completion of the project would bring to the nation.
In addition to setting up the investigative committee, the Senate also called on the federal government to prioritize the revival of the Centenary City project.
This includes providing necessary support, resolving regulatory issues, and addressing any other impediments that have obstructed progress over the past decade.
The resolutions highlight the Senate’s commitment to ensuring that the Centenary City project not only resumes but also reaches completion as envisioned, potentially providing significant economic opportunities and enhancing the living standards of Nigerians.
