Abuja centenary plans 250,000 jobs for teeming youths

Abuja Centenary Economic Free Zone City, has declared that it would be the new hope for massive job opportunities for teeming unemployed youth, promising to create about 250,000 jobs for qualified Nigerians. Managing Director of the city, Dr Odenigwe Ike Michaels, disclosed this at a preparatory meeting for the commencement of the outfit. He made the disclosure while receiving the Managing Director, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Jime, who visited the City. According to him, the issue of unemployment, no doubt is among the greatest problem of Nigeria as a country. “The hope of many Nigerians to securing a blue collar job is coming alive as the Management of Centenary City Abuja (the Nigeria’s 100 years anniversary free zone city), revealed that over 250,000 job opportunities will soon be available for qualified candidates. “A targeted, decisive and productive economic ventures such as; the Centenary City and Eko Atlantic City which are ongoing, are perfect examples towards changing the story of Nigeria from a helpless state to a place her citizens will be proud to call their own. “This is because these economic free zone ventures will immensely contribute in diversifying Nigeria’s economy, accelerate development and most importantly; provide the massive job opportunities needed to get the country’s teeming unemployed youth engage,” Michaels added. The venture, he further said, will kick-off its job provisions by providing jobs for Nigerians at the City’s Safari Park, where prospective rangers will hired and trained for the job. He said: “The city, being a legacy project to mark Nigeria’s 100 years anniversary, will pave way for jobs no other can provide for Nigerians. The Centenary Economic City Free Zone was a strategy of government to diversify economy of the country. “With tourism, sport, entertainment and businesses, the city is very critical to Nigeria growth and even as its population is expected to grow more and it’s part of an idea to preparing the country towards a greater and better future. “It will own the first private owned Safari Park in the world. And Over 250,000 Nigerians will be employed in the centenary city, many of which will be office work (Blue collar jobs). The City is simply a step to fighting for the future of our young ones. “The City is an economic free zone like Dubai, Qatar, Eko Atlantic City. Its focus is on tourism, leisure, history, and it is regulated by NEPZA. “So far, it is the most dynamically committed Free Zone, as over $40million has already been spent by the investors in the project. We follow due process in everything about the development of the City. And it has been created for transparency from all investigations by the National Assembly.” Furthermore, the MD of NEPZA added, “Centenary City Project is viable to the satisfaction of Nigerians. And as we all know, Free zones are catalysts for development of countries and Nigeria must not be left behind. The city can deliver jobs no other can be able to. And the issues of deficit of infrastructure will be delivered by this project.” Seated on 1260 hectares of land in Abuja of which only 690 hectares are buildable, the City will have 360 luxury villas, 256 apartment buildings, 13 waterfront retail areas and 139 office buildings. It will also have 466,297m integrated golf community, 313,697million of hotel suites and service apartments, 5 major retail centres, 46 floors of premium office, 30 floors of luxury apartments among others.