‘Multibillion naira Ado Bayero mall to change face of commerce in Kano’

The almost completed ultra-modern Ado Bayero Shopping Mall in Kano will change the face of commerce in the ancient city, and restore its position of pre-eminence as the historic trading and commercial hub of Northern Nigeria. It will also create other industries along the value chain and thus provide employment opportunities in and around the state.

These are the summations of Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, chief executive officer, of Alpine Investment Service Nigeria Limited, an indigenous investment firm financing the mall project.

The project is being built at the cost of over N11 billion and is slated for commissioning any time from now to transform the business landscape of the commercial city of Kano.

Hayatu-Deen confirmed the near completion of the project, pointing out that the commissioning was earlier fixed for October 2012, saying that the project is one of his company’s initiatives aimed at rejuvenating the state’s ailing economy.

Unveiling the key features of the project, Hayatu-Deen stated that the project is planned to occupy over 10 hectares of land, and when completed, is to have two international retail shopping outlets, a cinema hall, as well as 50 shops.

“The mall with its unique ambience and architecture will change the face of commerce in Kano and restore the ancient city to its position of pre-eminence as the historic trading and commercial hub of Northern Nigeria.

“A new lease of life would come for local farmers and industries in the state and environs with the expanded market, while the promotion of tourism would be enhanced.

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“In addition, the advent of the ultra-modern mall would create other industries along the value-chain and thus provide employment opportunities in and around the state”, he said.

He further said that the project would help realise the dream of the state government to improve the quality of life of her indigenes, residents and visitors alike by providing individuals and families the opportunity to shop, relax and be entertained in a good environment.

He expressed delighted that the sizeable population of foreigners in the state especially Lebanese, Syrians, Malaysians, Chinese and others will easily relate with the project and make it their first place of patronage because it mirrors their shopping and entertainment system back in their native lands.

“Already expressions of interest have been received from 70 national and regional enterprises that are keen to take up space in the mall”, Hayatu-Deen said.

Speaking in the same vein, representative of the management of First Bank Plc, financing the project, Umar Hamza, an executive director of the bank, said the bank is proud to associate with the project.

“When Alpine Investment Services Limited, the project developers, approached First Bank for the debt finance for the project, we immediately saw its potential not only as a viable stand alone financial undertaking but also as an enterprise that will have a profound impact on other areas of economy of Kano and surrounding states.

“Before appraising the project on its merits, the first focus of the bank was to assess the ability of the developers to initiate and conclude a project of this magnitude and complexity.

“We were impressed by the leadership and collective management experience of the developers, the rigour with which they have approached the pre-development phase of the project and the quality of the professional team they have assembled.

“As a financial institution with a long term view of development of its host communities, First Bank will always lend support to sound projects that have impact on the lives of the people. We sincerely believe that Ado Bayero Mall will be a flag-bearer in the attainment of this development objective”, Hamza stated.