Senate Initiates Legislative Process to Revive, Complete $18.5 Billion Abuja Centenary City Project

 On Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate passed a motion titled "Urgent Need to revive and complete the stalled Centenary Abuja Project," which seeks to revive and complete the Abuja Centenary City project.

The original estimated investment for the project was $18.5 billion in 2014, and it was envisioned to serve as a potential economic hub, with a plan to create over 190,000 construction jobs, 250 million permanent well-paying jobs, and residential accommodation for over 200,000 residents.

Senator Yisa Oyelola Ashiru sponsored the motion, drawing attention to the fact that the project had been stalled for almost 10 years since its commencement, with developmental estimates of less than seven percent of road construction and other critical infrastructure.

The Senate plans to set up an ad hoc committee to urgently investigate factors that have impeded the completion of the Abuja Centenary City project.

The committee is also tasked with reviewing the original public-private partnership agreement and recommending amendments.

If necessary, the Senate plans to facilitate the smooth and expeditious completion of the project within a defined timeframe. The Abuja Centenary City was designated as a free trade zone under the regulatory oversight of the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NIPZA), without prejudice to other statutory agencies like the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abuja Investment Company (AIC), and Abuja Infrastructure Investment Centre (AIIC). In addition to the motion, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, criticized the Nigeria Correctional Service over lapses in the service while commenting on a bill to amend the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Act.

He noted that since the Nigeria Prisons Service was changed to Nigeria Correctional Service, the nation has witnessed more jailbreaks.

He suggested that laws are meant to punish and correct, and if by the time someone is convicted and sent to prison, they are meant to learn skills and ethical reorientation.

He added that he supports the idea of having a thorough examination of the Bill for the amendment of RMAFC Act to avoid making the same mistake made in coming up with the Correctional Services as a name. The RMAFC Act was approved for second reading and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriation.