Centenary City to be listed on London Stock Exchange

 Abuja With the  subscription of $100milion as the capital call   for the Centenary city which is being  planned as part of activities for Centenary celebration, the Federal Government  says  plans are  underway to ensure its listing on the Nigeria and London Stock Exchanges. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, who disclosed at
a dinner President Goodluck Jonathan had with top Nigerian Chief Executive Officers at the Presidential Villa as part of activities marking the nation’s centenary celebration reiterated that no government fund would be committed to the project.

From right, President Goodluck Jonathan; Vice President Namadi Sambo and the SGF Senator Pius Anyim arriving for the Corporate Dinner for the Centenary Celebrations at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida…Thursday night

According to the SGF, “it is the desire of the promoters of the city that in the nearest future, the stock of the city would be quoted on the Nigeria and London Stock Exchanges”. He noted that  the production of the city’s final master plan, was at advanced stage while foremost consultants, Price Waterhouse Coopers had been appointed financial consultants for the project. Dr Anyim noted that  Messrs DDB, Lagos has been appointed the official marketer of the centenary activities. ”The entire celebration is planned to be investment driven such that nobody should put in a kobo without getting value for it,” he said. In his welcome address at the dinner, President Jonathan said the involvement of the private sector in the project was a demonstration of his government’s confidence in the sector. He noted that apart from the Centenary City which would provide all the facilities that Nigerians travel out of the country to go an enjoy abroad, unity squares would also built in all state capitals to add to their beauty. He said “the private sector should take the lead in realising this our national aspiration. Your support will identify you and your brand with national success.  We are encouraging a citizen driven commemorative event that will replace negative narrative of the nation with a story of a blessed nation”. ” Experience has shown that most of the things done by government do not last. They may look good at the beginning but at the end, they always fall like a pack of cards. ” We are thinking of a city where you don’t need to carry cylinder to look for gas, where you do not have to dig borehole before getting water, where you have to generate your power before getting electricity and where you have to hire a private security man to ensure your safety” the president noted.