POLITICAL Economy

Wike partners MAG international Links as FCT’s flagship development

by admin on | 2025-08-06 11:50:19

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Wike partners MAG international Links as FCT’s flagship development

By Abdullahi Muhammad

Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr Nyesom Wike, has Wednesday signed a landmark agreement with MAG International Links Limited to deliver what he described as Abuja’s “flagship development”, a new urban hub known as City Walk Abuja, modelled after Dubai’s iconic City Walk.

At a formal signing ceremony attended by government officials and investors, Wike made it clear that the era of speculative land grabbing in Abuja is over, insisting that only serious investors committed to clear timelines and visible progress will be accommodated.

“We are not giving out land for people to hold and speculate,” Wike declared. “This is a partnership anchored on results, not promises.”

The City Walk Abuja project, spanning over 200 hectares in the Abuja Technology Village corridor, aims to replicate — and perhaps surpass — the mixed-use urban vibrancy of Dubai’s City Walk. It will blend residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, medical, and institutional facilities in a single modern enclave. But the key differentiator, Wike stressed, is execution.

“We have seen what you’ve done in Dubai. We’ve been to the site. We’ve reviewed the designs, approved the drawings, and signed the Certificates of Occupancy. Now we want to see bulldozers and concrete, not excuses,” the minister said, confirming that foundation works must begin by August and the first phase delivered by May 2026 — the third anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He explained that City Walk Abuja will be monitored closely and supported heavily, with development control, land access, and planning bottlenecks all “dismantled” under his direct supervision. He positioned the project as a key pillar of President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” — a mantra for job creation, investor confidence, and infrastructure renewal.

Dr Kassim Gidado, Executive Director of MAG International Links, hailed the minister’s “personal push” as instrumental in accelerating the deal.

“This is not just another real estate project,” Gidado said. “City Walk Abuja is our flagship, a symbol of what is possible when public will meets private expertise. Our group operates in over 35 countries. But this is home.”

MAG International Links, a Nigerian-owned conglomerate with over 15 affiliated companies, has built a reputation for attracting Gulf investors to Nigeria and exporting Nigerian goods abroad. Gidado confirmed that the Abuja project is already attracting attention from investors in the UAE and beyond.

“This will be our Canary Wharf,” he said, referencing the transformation of East London from urban decay to global financial hub. “City Walk Abuja will transform not just the skyline, but the story of this capital city.”

The City Walk site has long suffered under land disputes and investor inertia, Wike noted, but now the government is clearing access roads and fast-tracking permits to ensure a rapid start.

In a city where trust between developers and regulators has often been fragile, Wike’s approach is part enforcement, part reassurance: “We’re giving you land — but we’re watching every step. And we’re here to help.”

If delivered on schedule, the City Walk Abuja project could become one of the most visible symbols yet of Abuja’s new development ethos: bold, time-bound, and investor-driven.