On Wednesday Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai flagged of the construction of the N3.9 billion Kaduna Galaxy Mall which is to be completed in 18 months time.
Speaking at the contract signing and ground-breaking ceremony of the mall in Kaduna, El-Rufai say the contract had brought closer to realisation and had suffered unfortunate delays.
“Since we unveiled the road projects, Kaduna residents will have noticed that work has commenced on developing a new Centenary Park opposite the Government House. That park is being developed on the site initially earmarked for the Galaxy Mall project we launched in partnership with UAC Property Development company (UPDC) in 2016.
“That dream was painfully aborted. But we have since that setback considered options for building a mall to maximise the retail opportunities in Kaduna, improve the shopping experience for our people and provide facilities like cinemas and restaurants,” he said.
He commended the Kaduna Markets Development and Management Agency (KMDMC) for creatively discharging its responsibility under our Urban Renewal Programme.
He said the body had structured this N3.9bn project as a public-private partnership between the Kaduna State Government, Amsalco, a private firm and the United Bank for Africa, saying that he had no doubt that this structure would deliver the mall within the envisaged 18 months.
The Kaduna Galaxy Mall is being built on four hectares of land and would have 7,491 square metres of lettable space, while upon completion, the mall would have space for one major anchor tenant, three cinemas, six restaurants, 48-line shops and over 360 car parking bays, El-Rufai said.
“CCECC Nigeria Limited is in charge, our partners in the Urban Renewal Programme, which includes the dualisation of WAFF Road, the main access road to and around the mall.
“Therefore, we expect that this project will be completed on schedule. Having a decent mall in a city is a quality of life issue, giving people more options for shopping and relaxation. But a mall also expands economic opportunity, for farmers, suppliers, sellers and the workers that will be recruited to build it and to run the facilities therein.
“We are revived it with a new investment structure and partners because The dream of a Galaxy Mall was once aborted. Let everyone do their duty so that it can become a viable, living reality,” he said.
