By Frank Efe:

Sir, Patrick Ferife, representing Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan laying the foundation stone of the Delta City Mall, Effurun, Delta State, while others look on

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has said that the recent ground breaking and foundation laying of the 57 million dollars Delta City Mall l is a remarkable land mark project  in the history of the State, noting that when the project is completed the economic activities of the State will be improved.

The Governor made this statement during the ground breaking and official laying foundation ceremony of the Delta City Mall in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.

Dr. Sir Patrick Ferefe, Commissioner of Land and Urban Development, who represented the state governor, said that the state government is happy to lay the foundation for the City Mall as the project keys into one of the State’s government agenda of Infrastructural development.

He said; “When this project is completed it is going to improve the economic activities of this area. It is going to provide job opportunities and business opportunities to, not only Deltans but non-Deltans as well. It is going to provide an arena where our farmers are going to package their produce for sales. It will be a place where quality goods and services will be accessed by Deltans.”

The Governor also reiterated the commitment of the state to building a Delta State beyond oil, urging all investors to come to Delta and help build the state in the area of agriculture and manufacturing.

He commended the doggedness of the management of Shoprite under the management of Mr. Olumide Akensanya, MD, Shoprite, for it making the ground breaking and foundation laying ceremony possible.

In his speech, the Managing Director, Shoprite, Mr. Akensanya thanked the state government for the opportunity given to them to contribute to their quota to the development of Delta State.

Speaking to newsmen he said; “Delta State has created the enabling environment, they have partnered with us and the Governor believes in Delta beyond oil. He believes that with the presence of Shoprite the environment will be improved. The farmers will have where to sell their goods and they will also have access to quality goods. The government has provided us with the enabling environment and they have given us a reason to be here.”

Mr. Akensanya also noted that the project is public private sectors initiated by Dr. Uduaghan where foreign investors are encourage to come to Delta State, saying that this project for them is just the beginning.

Speaking on the role of Baysol Development Ltd in the project, Mr. Akensanya said Baysol is the developer of the project, emphasizing that they have also put together the funding of the project which will cost 57 million dollars.

He said; “Delta State has come of age and the people of Delta State deserve the best and that is also the believer of his Excellency. We have put together everything you see here, including the funding. This project is going to cost 57 million dollars and we are fully funded. We will deliver this project by Christmas Eve of 2014.”

Also speaking to newsmen, the Managing Director of Resilient Africa Real Estate Ltd, Mr. Holden Marshall, said their company is very excited because the project is their first ground breaking in Nigeria and that they are also excited about the prospects.

Mr. Marshall said the first phase of the work is going to take about 12,000 square kilometers of fully air-conditioned shopping mall, adding that once the state and the people fully understands what they are doing they will increase the Mall to a about 20,000 square meters will take several years to develop.

He said; “We believe we have a very good contractor in NTC and we believe we also have a very strong support team and project director. And we are confident that we are going to complete this project by last quarter of 2014

END.