Won’t Abuja be rated by Forbes?

The picture on page 29 shows one of the many exquisite buildings in the city. No doubt, it is a fantastic architectural design. The house elegantly stands by Gana Street overlooking the grand Transcorp Hilton Hotel in the stunning and exclusive Maitama District of the capital city. Hardly does one drives by or walks past […]

The picture on page 29 shows one of the many exquisite buildings in the city. No doubt, it is a fantastic architectural design. The house elegantly stands by Gana Street overlooking the grand Transcorp Hilton Hotel in the stunning and exclusive Maitama District of the capital city.
Hardly does one drives by or walks past without tilting the head back to look and look at it. The house is strategically located. Guests at the Hilton can easily notice it. It is said that a couple of African leaders who passed by have asked questions about the building.
The swimming pool is on top of it. Take a peep in and you would be amazed by the wonderful art works therein. It has insurance cover and the security system is superb. Apparently, this is not the kind of house the bad boys will attempt to invade. An estate agent said, “It’s like the White House [in Washington DC]. It’s a presidential den. Visitors on vacation can put up there. It has capacity to take 10 families.”
Some say the house checkmates the Hilton. This house is not for the ordinary people. It may take not less than N30 million to maintain it in a year, a builder observed. It is said that the managers of the estate are demanding N7 billion to let go the house.
The owner’s identity remains unknown but it is speculated that it belongs one of the allies of a former head of state. It has been completed over one-and-a-half years ago. The question remains, who will buy this house?
A similar structure is sited on Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse Abuja. Some say the same person owns it.
Generally, money appears to be in short supply but that is no headache to many Abuja people who have high regard for artistry. They just don’t have to skimp on beauty. They spend huge fortunes getting the best of architectural drawings to make their homes get great appeal.
Cities might be termed beautiful for their skyscrapers or well-lit streets or wonderful art works. Abuja has not many of the above but truly the city might be trotting into the Forbes’ ratings.
Good-looking homes sprout up every day. But Mrs Helen Obiechena, a town planner with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) said Abuja would have been more beautiful than it is if the master plan had not been distorted by different administrations. She regretted that at different times, beginning from the military era, certain actions were taken without regard for the city’s master plan.  

Residents are upbeat
Abuja-based estate agent, Sherrif Abdulkadir of Daba Homes believes that Abuja is qualified to be among the most beautiful cities because unlike elsewhere, development is on fertile ground. He said in Abuja, there is no challenge of bringing down unwanted or old buildings to erect new ones so architects plan in relation to natural benchmarks.
He said Abuja is just in its first phase of development yet it gets acclamation. So by the time the remaining three phases are done, the city will be a wow! “The city will be more beautiful than Malaysia and London,” Abdulkadir noted.
A Deputy Director with Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), Mr Cosmas Uzodinma expressed, “The world is a global village. People are artistic and aesthetic. We should encourage them to build because it will create wealth. When they build, they will give jobs to security men, cleaners etc. If we scare them, they’ll take their investments abroad.”
A journalist with the Africa Independent Television (AIT) in Abuja, Mngusuul Uji said, “I admire art so these beautiful houses give me a lot of appeal. I appreciate their architectural designs.”

The worrisome trend
Apparently, Abuja has many beautiful homes. But what is not clear is the source of wealth of those who build these houses. It is said that because anti graft agencies have tightened the noose on money laundering activities, top government officials together with their family members, friends and associates as well as collaborators in the private sector illegally remove public funds and turn to the real sector to stash them. This explains why there are many empty homes all over the city yet nobody gives a hoot. Premiums on these properties are simply outrageous and out of reach of many.
Moreso, some look at building magnificent homes as needless opulence in the presence of poverty. But the AIT reporter is of the opinion that there is always a wide gap between reality and what is expected. What people want is always at par with what happens practically. For her, the beautiful houses enhance beauty and tourism potential of the city so more of such are welcome.
Abuja, a purpose-built city is wealthy and very expensive. This is why a large chunk of the population that is supposedly Abuja residents cram themselves in the semi-developed fringes of the city commuting daily with tears into the main city.
Anyhow, this has not taken away the fact that Abuja can easily become one of the most beautiful cities.  After all, there will always be the opulent and the impoverished.
Obviously, Abuja is sprucing up itself to enter the ranks of Cambridge, Tokyo, Paris, New York, Vancouver, Sydney, Florence and Venice, all top beautiful cities in their various ways. Anyone who wants to savour magnificent works of architecture should walk down the streets of Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse, Kpaduma districts and would have a lot to ruminate on.