Kano plans N250 billion economic city

Located in Dangauro village, the project is the brainchild of Integrated Development and Investment Services Limited (IDIS), and in the Kano State Government. It is financed by a consortium of local and foreign banks, with Oceanic Bank International plc as lead financier.

The Centre will bring to two the number of such world-class trade centres in the country. The former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, had constructed the Tinapa Resort, which was opened for business early in the year.

At a formal procedure in Kano, top management staff of the parties signed the relevant documents bringing into effect the construction stage of the project. The foundation-laying ceremony would be performed by President Umaru Yar’Adua on December 4.

Abubakar Nagona, president and chief executive officer, signed the contract with an initial budget of N2.7-billion on behalf of IDIS, while Ing Marvelli, managing director, signed on behalf of DTV.

Consequently, the contractor, who was selected among a dozen other companies, has started mobilising to site in time to meet the 12-month duration.

Nagona sees a project that described the occasion as unique and has the potential to transform the economy of state and impact immensely on Nigeria’s quest for economic development.

He said the project would expand industrial, residential and infrastructure projects in Kano and urged the contractors to ensure timely completion of the project.

Marvelli gave assurance that DTV would deploy its outstanding pedigree in civil construction to effectively deliver on its brief, adding that the project to be delivered would be comparable to any other world-class business resort across the globe.

He described the assignment as the building block of a partnership that would be mutually beneficial to both organisations as well as the people of Kano and Nigeria.

The project, which is wholly private sector funded, will house a five-star hotel, residential and industrial estates, an all-encompassing shopping mall that will feature world-class brands, a world trade centre, which would be comparable to any in the world, retail market consisting of 5,500 lock-up shops, large, medium and small warehouses, two large cinema halls, social and recreational facilities, conference facilities, rail terminus, fuel and fire stations and maintenance building.

The project sits on 121.2 hectares of land on the outskirt of the city, which will increase to 350 hectares when the second and third phases are completed.