The Sunday Mail
Business Editor
ABUJA, the political capital of Nigeria strategically located at the heart of a 924 000 square km expanse in order to be representative of all its regions, is clearly a work in progress.
Huge cement structures often bandaged by bamboo and iron scaffolding — yes, bamboo — compete to poke the humid Abuja sky.
These are sketches of future hotels, office and residential apartments.
Economists generally view construction as a stimulus to economic growth as it feeds into multiple economic activities that naturally have positive economic spin offs.
It is therefore unsurprising that Africa’s richest man Mr Aliko Dangote, whose net worth was estimated at US$14,7 billion by Forbes last week, is a key player in the manufacturing and distribution of cement.
But the buildings are generally distinct: They have a generous girth but are of modest height, quite dissimilar from the humongous and glamorous skyscrapers that are the essence of Dubai’s skyline.
The streets, too, are modest, often having a dual carriageway,
For a city that was in part built to escape the maddening hum, hustle and bustle of Lagos, which remains the commercial capital of Nigeria and a favoured destination of most Nigerians, Abuja has managed to restore a modicum of civility and sanity.
It is a miracle, almost impossible, to spot a pothole, or a patch on the clean streets of the Federal Capital Territory, the CBD.
And vendors are also extinct in this capital.
The only bloat that one can find in Abuja are the haunting power cuts that seem to be hounding business.
Power cuts in Abuja are epileptic at best and diabolic at worse, reflecting an Africa-wide problem.
It is not only taxing on businesses but on political administration as well.
For a country that is supposed to back its leading economic status with burgeoning economic activity, it is saddening that the country is only able to produce about 4 400MW against peak demand of 12 800MW to 13 000MW.
And it is naturally small to medium enterprises that have born the brunt of such an aberration.
The droning sound of diesel generators are quite heavy and piercing especially in and around the Wesu market, which is popular for selling fabrics from the Ivory Coast and Ghana, including all manner of wares that are now flooding markets across Africa.
