BUSINESS
Tinubu To Perform Groundbreaking Of Multi-billion Naira Abuja Airport Garden City – Firm
…to accommodate over 3,000 residents, businesses
…AIG Ayodeji assured of security
… construction partners guarantee quality work
By Ebriku John Friday
As part of effort and vision to tapped into the Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ Agenda , a real estate firm of global repute, First Rotech Group of Companies Ltd, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu will perform groundbreaking of multi-billion Naira Abuja Airport Garden City.
Chairman, First Rotech Group of Companies Ltd, High Chief Austin Oguejiofor (2nd left) with AIG Ogundele Ayodeji of Zone 7 Hqtrs Abuja (middle), Managing Director GTX Construction Mr Mohamad Harb (1st left) and other partners during the tour of the site for construction of Abuja Airport Garden City Gousa Abuja, recently.
The disclosure was made by the Chairman of First Rotech Group, High Chief Austin Oguejiofor, after a tour of the site located in Gousa, along the popular Airport Road in Abuja with the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, AIG Ogundele Ayodeji and other partners.
Oguejiofor explained that the partnership is on the heels of developing a new layout for Abuja Airport Garden City, which will open a new vista in the housing and tourism sectors, with the aim of attracting huge businesses and reducing the accommodation challenges.
According to him, the Abuja Airport Garden City will sit on a 250 hectare of land between the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and the Abuja Railway Station.
He further stated that the sophisticated facilities of the City would accommodate over 3,000 residents and businesses.
He also commended the federal government for buying into the vision of the project, which the mega land was approved and allocated for the project to kick off in the nation’s capital city.
He added that the Tinubu-led administration is visionary and wants Nigerians to have a new lease of life based on the various policies that are people oriented and yielding results, whereby the ease of doing business is also commendable, and more will be seen that would transform the economy and lives of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, he said, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, will also visit the site, and added that he has seriously endorsed the project because it would galvanize the business environment of the FCT.
First Rotech Group is also in partnership with a Dubai construction giant, GTX Construction Ltd for standardised construction and T-one Technology Limited for digitization of the project for easy map search, assuring investors of quality work and timely delivery.
The chairman, First Rotech Group also had in his entourage, wife and Managing Director of the company, Mrs Chika Oguejiofor; Managing Director, GTX Construction Ltd, Mr Mohamad Harb; Director, Engineering, GTX Construction, Mr John El Chami; Chairman/CTO T-One Technology Limited, Mr Afam Mbanefo; the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, AIG Ogundele Ayodeji, and also top officials of First Rotech Group including Alhaji Suleiman Shuaibu Galadima; Chief Operating Officer First Rotech Group Mr Uche Okeke; Mr Okey Mogambo and a Nollywood veteran Amb Dr Jerry Amilo who is the PRO and brand ambassador of Group.
He said: “We are partnering with the federal government on the project, because the land comes from the Federal Government and this is the Federal Capital Territory. So we are partnering with the government. They are the ones to approve it, which they have done.
“I therefore seize this opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating an enabling environment in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda for mass housing in Nigeria, beginning from Abuja, the nation’s capital city.
“Very soon we will be inviting the Hon Minister of FCT, His Excellency, Barr Nyesom Wike and Mr President and other dignitaries to come here and do the Ground breaking.
“As you can see we are preparing for the ground breaking of the project. In this project, we are looking arlt about 2,000 to 3,000 residents inside the garden city. All necessary amenities and facilities will be provided.
“Lands, dual carriage way, street lights, sewage systems, water system, sustainable electricity, green energy I mean, shops and malls, recreational areas, hospital, schools and University. There is church and Mosque for religious worship. I can say that it’s a full package and we are ready to go.”
In the same vein, the Managing Director of the Firm, Mrs Chika Oguejiofor, in a remark opined that, there will be attractive benefits for investors in form of discounts, choice of location, noting that the luxury buildings is for different classes of Nigerians.
She said, “We would have benefits for investors such as discounts, and some flexible selection of choice areas, depending on the investment agreement we would have with the investors. And First Rotech Group, we are the developer of this huge project, and Abuja Airport Garden City is bringing luxury living right at the door steps of Abuja residents, Nigerians in the Diaspora and Nigerians in General. The building which ranges in different sizes is meant to accommodate Nigerians of different status and means.”
Map of the Abuja Airport Garden City Gousa
Meanwhile, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Ogundele Ayodeji, spoke extensively on security of the location, which investors were assured of their safety.
“When you talk about development project, it is necessary to check the security arrangements of where the development is about to take place. And that is the more reason I came here.
“The CP FCT has equally visited here. And I have decided to come and see for myself. And from what I have seen on the location of this Abuja Airport Garden City, it is conducive and the security is alright.
“Unlike what people normally believe, Abuja is not as bad as people used to say, and as you can see for yourself, the area is peaceful apart from small crimes that you can’t rule out completely, but the issue of kidnapping, armed robbery has reduced drastically.
“Investment and development go hand in hand with security. If the area is not secured investors won’t come and I am assuming that the location is secured for investors to come and carry out their business”, Ayodeji added.
BUSINESS
Tinubu’s Rubber Revolution Takes Root In Cross River As Eba Partners First Nigerian Condom, Latex Products Factory
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision to revitalise Nigeria’s rubber industry is beginning to yield results in Cross River State, as the first factory in the country and the second in Africa producing condoms and other latex products begins operation in Calabar.
This development follows President Tinubu’s directive to the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Rubber Research Institute, Benin, and All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Cross River State, Alphonsus Ogar Eba Esq, JP, to drive initiatives that will develop rubber production, processing, marketing, and value addition in the sector.
The President’s Renewed Hope Agenda emphasises diversifying the economy, reducing carbon emissions, tackling climate change, creating jobs for Nigerian youths, and restoring the glory of cash crops, reminiscent of the Eastern Region’s economic boom during the era of Sir Michael Okpara.
On Wednesday, 13th August 2025, the Vice Chairman (South-South) of the National Association of Rubber Producers, Processors and Marketers, Bishop Usen Umoh, led Barr. Eba on a working visit to Agrim Pharmaceutical and Health Care FZE Calabar — an Indian-owned company that has set up Nigeria’s first condom manufacturing facility.
The company’s Managing Director, Mr Nitin Agrim, revealed plans to expand production to include medical hand gloves, rubber bands, and other latex-based products. He appealed for partnership and access to locally sourced latex to reduce dependence on imports.
Barr. Eba commended the company for their confidence in the Nigerian economy and for choosing Cross River State as their investment destination. He assured them of the Federal and State Governments’ readiness to support their operations by ensuring a steady supply of raw materials.
He urged the company to prioritise employing Nigerians, especially members of their host communities in Cross River.
During a guided tour of the factory, Barr. Eba expressed satisfaction that most of the workforce were from Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. He noted that with this facility and its planned expansion, Nigeria could save up to $18 million annually in foreign exchange currently spent on condom imports.
He also emphasised that nearly 23 states in Nigeria grow rubber, gum arabic, and other latex-yielding crops, highlighting his determination to fulfil the President’s mandate of reducing the nation’s reliance on oil revenue.
According to him, diversifying into cash crops such as rubber, oil palm, and cocoa, which once formed the backbone of Nigeria’s economy before the discovery of crude oil in the 1950s, will stimulate growth, create wealth, and drive sustainable development.
...As Governors of Sokoto, Bauchi, Kano Lead Opening Ceremony
The Managing Director/CEO of Fesadeb Media Group and Convener of the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS), Barrister Festus Adebayo, has called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s housing sector laws, describing many of the existing policies as obsolete and inadequate for present-day challenges.
Adebayo noted that the laws establishing key housing institutions such as the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) are outdated and hinder effective service delivery.
“In Nigeria, the law that establishes some of the housing agencies are moribund.
“Check the law that establishes FHA—you will discover that it is time for us to review it so that FHA can be able to do more in the performance and delivery of its mandate.
“The same thing applies to the Federal Mortgage Bank. The law only provides solutions to problems that existed at the time it was created; it needs urgent review,” he said.
The 9th edition of the AIHS, scheduled to take place between Tuesday, July 27 to 1st August, 2025, will have as special guests the Governors of Sokoto, Bauchi, and Kano States, who are expected to showcase their respective states’ achievements in housing and infrastructure development.
Barrister Adebayo emphasised that the theme of this year’s show, “Reimagining Housing Through Innovation, Collaboration and Policy,” aligns with the urgent need to modernise housing policies and strengthen collaboration between government and private sector players to meet Africa’s growing housing demand.
He reiterated that reforming housing laws and fostering partnerships are crucial steps to ensure sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s housing deficit.
The Managing Director/CEO of Fesadeb Media Group and Convener of the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS), Barrister Festus Adebayo, has unveiled plans for the 2025 edition of the continent’s biggest housing and construction forum, promising robust engagements on housing incentives, mortgage reforms, women’s inclusion, and accountability for government housing agencies.
Speaking ahead of the event, Barrister Adebayo who stressed that housing remains a critical need that must receive as much attention as food security, observed that Africa International Housing Show 2025 scheduled to hold between 27th July, to 1st August, 2025 in Abuja promises to be a platform for key policy conversations, stakeholder accountability, and practical solutions to bridge Africa’s housing gap.
“At the AIHS 2025, we will do everything possible to see how we can attract and get government to look into incentives that can help in the delivery of housing. In fact, we shall be providing suggestions on the type of incentives and interventions government can provide,” he said.
He pointed to the government’s recapitalisation of the Bank of Industry to support food production as a lesson for housing. “Today we have Bank of Industry being totally recapitalized for the purpose of providing food. Housing is key. After food is housing. When the government gives attention to housing, employment will be created, productivity will be increased. Because when I sleep well, I think well, I work well. It also reduces the number of times I go to the hospital,” he stated.
Adebayo lamented the hurdles faced by Nigerians in accessing mortgage loans, questioning why prospective homeowners cannot easily secure mortgages.
“We will look into what is wrong with the mortgage system—why people cannot walk into a mortgage bank, fill a form, show evidence of their monthly salary, and own a house. Africa International Housing Show 2025 will be looking into all these issues,” he assured.
As part of ongoing efforts to ensure inclusivity, Barrister Adebayo explained that the AIHS 2025 will also give prominence to women’s participation in housing discussions.
“Before the end of day two, we shall be engaging our women to come up with their own ideas on how the issue of housing can be better addressed. There are challenges in the area of women as well. Some states in Nigeria don’t allow women to inherit property. There are laws that are against them. So, the women will be with us,” Adebayo explained.
He confirmed that United Nations Women representatives from Nigeria and Cameroon will be part of the discussions. “They are not asking for only extra seats in parliament. The women are also demanding affordable housing for themselves, for widows of police and soldiers who died in the course of their service.
“As of 2025, we are going to engage all the CEOs of the agencies, be it federal mortgage banks. There is going to be a fire shot with them,” he revealed.
Speaking on the need to ensure accountability from relevant Regulatory agencies, Barrister Adebayo further disclosed that AIHS 2025 will hold government housing agencies accountable.
“We will ask them, ‘What have you achieved in the last one year? How many mortgages have you created? How many houses have you financed? How many workers and beneficiaries have you supported?’
“We will then move to the Federal Housing Authority and ask, ‘Tell us what you are doing, and give us room to answer questions. What agenda are you pursuing?’” he said.
He added that the forum will engage the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company and the Ministry of Finance, which currently holds about ₦250 billion and is targeting ₦1 trillion for housing and mortgage development. “They will be with us as partners and will be telling us what they have done since they were established. They will enlighten stakeholders on how Nigerians and non-Nigerians can benefit from the funds, the percentage of their interest rate, and how to access the money,” Adebayo said.
According to him, AIHS 2025 will attract participants from at least 25 countries, with over 25,000 attendees and between 350 to 400 distributors.
“AIHS is a gathering of professionals, policymakers, politicians, everybody.
“We will not leave AIHS 2025 without looking into why federal government housing projects fail.
“We have so many housing projects, but why are they failing? What mistakes are being repeated?” he queried.
Barrister Adebayo emphasised that the forum is expected to extract with concrete commitments from policymakers. “Before we leave, policymakers must give us a conversation. We will come up with a way forward,” Barrister Adebayo concluded.
