After more than a decade of suppressed activity, the management of Centenary City Free Zone Enterprises has engaged Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to provide infrastructure for the Abuja Centenary City project.
The announcement signals the resumption of work on one of Nigeria’s most ambitious urban development initiatives.
Speaking at a briefing in Abuja, the Managing Director of Centenary City Free Zone Enterprises, Dr. Odenigwe Ike Michaels Jr., said Julius Berger has been contracted to handle the Phase 1 Primary Infrastructure, valued at N750 billion.
He explained that the infrastructure works will be executed in lots, with Lot 1 covering the 4.3-kilometre Plot Access Road and secondary infrastructure for The Grove Residences, The Safari Park Residences, and The Ridge Villas.
According to him, Messers Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (DAR), the international firm that coordinated the original master plan of the city, has been retained to execute the Detailed Engineering Design of the entire project.
“After a pause in the development and construction, the project is now back on track with the promise to redefine sub-Saharan Africa’s skyline and enhance Nigeria’s global standing in urban development,” Dr. Michaels said.
He described the Centenary City as a transformative initiative conceived as Abuja’s foremost urban renewal project. “The project presents a great opportunity to create value and raise Abuja’s profile – to encourage international investment in Abuja, as the project is designed to work in harmony with nature,” he added.
Michaels further stated that the city’s districts and communities are designed to integrate with the natural landscape, combining a striking downtown skyline with serene suburban living.
He explained that the master plan envisions a multifunctional development that will provide a complete cosmopolitan lifestyle while also serving as a tourism hub for the wider community.
Key components of the project include Five-Star Hotels, Luxury Serviced Apartments and Residences, an International Commerce Centre, the Centenary International Convention Center, and the Mall of Africa. Other features will include a Championship Golf Course and Golf Estate, Championship Polo Courses and Estate, Nigeria Park, Safari Park, Industrial Park, African Arts Museum, Entertainment District, Amusement Park, as well as modern healthcare and educational facilities.
The management of Centenary City Free Zone Enterprises also acknowledged the support of government officials who have backed the revival of the project. They commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for encouraging sustainable development in Abuja, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, for his support in advancing modern urban renewal efforts.
“We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Julius Berger and DAR and are committed to working with their expert teams to begin and finalize the primary infrastructure of Centenary Economic City Free Zone in line with the Board of Directors’ vision to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure as well as seamless, safe, and sustainable smart city solutions,” Dr. Michaels said.
Estimated at $18 billion, the Centenary City project is a private sector-driven smart city designed to be modeled after Dubai, Monaco, and Singapore. When completed, it will feature luxury hotels, residential units, commercial spaces, shopping malls, cultural institutions, entertainment options, and sports facilities with the aim of positioning Abuja as a global destination for investment and lifestyle.
