News

Wike Announces Ambitious Two-Year Timeline for Completion of Millennium Tower Project

Editor August 29, 2023Last Updated: August 29, 2023

0 600 3 minutes read

Mr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, said the Millennium Tower project would be completed within the next two years.

Wike made this statement in Abuja following a private meeting with contractors in charge of several projects in the FCT.

According to The News Agency of Nigeria, the Millennium Tower in Abuja’s Central Area is a multipurpose building containing spaces for cultural expositions, tourism, socialising, relaxation, hospitality, and business ventures.

Salini Construction Nigeria Limited is in charge of the project, however, it was shelved because of a lack of funding.

He claimed that the skyscraper was a crucial undertaking that would alter the appearance of Abuja.

It’s an extremely ambitious project, but if Abuja wants to be considered among the top cities in the world, then we need to build this facility.

“I can assure you that undertaking that project is not simple, but we have determined that it will serve as one of President Bola Tinubu’s legacy projects, no matter what it takes.

“In fact, we are looking at the next two years, if the way we are going to structure our payment is agreeable with the contractor,” Wike said.

NAN reports that the project, conceived in 2005, has reached 40 per cent completion, and is expected to, upon completion, self-finance itself from revenues generated from all the commercial activities in the complex.

The scope of the project comprises a cultural centre with four museums, and an expansive arcade consisting of a 40,000 m2 platform for hosting national and other events.

It also consists of a five-star hotel with 55 luxury rooms and nine suites for about 130 people, offices, passive and active recreational facilities, a 1200-capacity auditorium, and conference rooms.

In addition, there are stores, gyms, squash courts, a sports centre with an indoor pool, exhibition halls, and a two-level, 1,200 space parking garage.

The 170-meter-tall Millennium Tower itself houses a rotating panoramic café with seating for more than 130 people.

The minister added that a careful analysis of all the awarded contracts with the contractors and his team has revealed that most of the projects were abandoned for lack of funds.

“The Minister of State, myself, the permanent secretary, and directors have concluded that it is not possible to carry on with the entire projects in the FCT.

“Therefore, we agreed to take them in order of priority. We have tried to work out most of the projects being handled by Julius Berger and agreed to see that these projects are fully completed,” he said.

READ ALSO:

Wike added that the Villa Roundabout being handled by China Geo-engineering Corporation (CGC) Nigeria Limited, would be completed in the next six to eight months.

He equally said that the ministry would ensure the completion of the projects being handled by Cetraco Nigeria Ltd, and also put a facelift on Garki, Wuse, and part of Maitama in the next one week.

He said that the contractors would be mobilised immediately, adding that Asokoro would equally have a facelift in no distant time.

On the Abuja light rail rehabilitation project, the minister said that an agreement has been concluded with CCECC Nigeria Limited to give them their money in the next two days so they can go to work.

“We are also discussing with the company the operation cost because it will not be good to rehabilitate and then you cannot operate.

“We have told them that on Thursday, we are going to meet to talk about the operation cost,” he said.

Wike pointed out that part of the problems of the projects was because they were not being funded by the national budget.

He said that in view of the funding challenge, the ministry would pick some projects that could be completed within a specific period and then decide on what to do again in the following year.

NAN