A world class shopping complex
The world class Ado Bayero Mall is soon to be commissioned in Nigeria. The mall which will be the biggest shopping complex in Nigeria with a gross built area of 31,000m2 is a development set in an area measuring 10 hectares in the heart of Kano.
The Ado Bayero Mall is evidence that the Nigerian shopping experience is fast experiencing a revolution as major cities in the country have continued to witness the constructon of mega shopping centers to cater for the budeoning middle class.
The economy of the country has grown at an average rate of 7 percent in the last 15 years despite insecurity, mismanagement, extreme corruption in high places and unstable power supply thus, enabling of the rise in the number of people entering the Nigerian middle class. Shopping malls are springing up everywhere in Nigeria to cater for the purchasing power of this fast-growing class.
Shopping centers, malls or plazas are the modern adaptation of the historical marketplace. The Nigeria. is a collection of independent retail stores, services, and a parking area which is conceived, constructed and maintained by a separate management firm as a unit. They may also contain restaurants, banks, theatres, professional offices, service stations and so on.
Prior to the arrival of SPAR, Park n Shop, The Palms, Polo Park Mall, Ikeja City Mall, Kwara Mall, Enugu Shopping Mall, Tinapa and several others scattered around major cities in the country, shopping places like Kingsway, Leventis, Dominos and Chellarams had existed in the 70s and 80s.
As the small department stores in the country gave way, local and bush markets particularly in areas like Agege, Mile 12 – both in Lagos, Abeokuta and several others began to boom. Even the rich had no alternative as these rural markets became the only choice for shoppers and traders.
Location
Currently at 80 percent completion stage, Ado Bayero Mall is located in the heart of Kano, Nigeria’s second most populous city, and is expected to be the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria and as such is poised to trigger a host of innovative developments in urban planning in and around the sub-region. This high-profile location guarantees easy access and visibility for all tenants and shoppers. It is also expected to offer specialist facilities to department stores, banks, fast food outlets & restaurants, salons and any other tenant with specific needs.
The owners of the mall, Beverly Development and Realties Limited (BDRL) will be responsible for the management of the mall through a world class facility management firm. –
While the mall constitutes the first phase of the development on the site, it is the intention of the owners to embark on a second phase comprising a 4-5 star hotel and an amusement park – thus providing the customers a unique blend of shopping, entertainment and hospitality experience.
Unique aspects of the project
The shopping complex will form part of an integrated entertainment and hospitality offering including a 150-200 bed 4 star hotel and an amusement centre as part of the second phase scheduled to kick off in 2014.
Some of the line shops which will be in the mall include Samsung, Adidas, Swatch,TM Lewin, Levi/Converse, Lego, Storm, Maybrands, Casa Bella, Healthpluss, Ruff N Tumble, Electromart, Lifemate, Airtel, Etisalat, Da-Viva,Office Everything etc.
The centrally air-conditioned mall with all the bells and whistles will be comparable to any modern shopping mall in major capitals of the world, its developers say.
According to its promoters, Alpine Investment Services Limited, the management intends to make the mall one of the top three highest grossing shopping centers in the country as measured by sales per square meter and also promote the super regional mall as the biggest family oriented shopping and entertainment attraction in Northern Nigeria.
The mall is expected to provide a broad range of other offerings including restaurants and media stores. As a family oriented relaxation center, it will also cater for an indoor play area for young children in addition to its seventy customizable shop spaces and ample parking for over 1,000 automobiles.
Benefits
The location of the mall at Kano provides a suitable position as a major commercial hub that dates back to the days of the trans-saharan trade.
The project has so far provided employment in the construction sector, and once finished it will be a centre for farmers and industries with ready market for their products.
The mall will further consolidate Kano state’s ranking as Nigeria’s second largest economy as confirmed by global investment banking firm- Renaissance Capital in their May 2013 report titled “Nigeria Unveiled”.
Challenges
The major challenge experienced during the construction period was ensuring full compliance with the very detailed and specialized specification of the anchor tenants (Shoprite and Game) noted that the tenants reviewing and upgrading their specifications.
Another challenge was to coordinate the approval process for the construction drawings of the anchor tenant spaces with their consultants who were based outside Nigeria.
Placing Kano on the shopping map
The opening of the mall for business in the last quarter of 2014 will put Kano on the global retail shopping and entertainment map, with catalytic effect on tourism in the state.
Kano State has revealed plans to construct a residential accommodation and vocation centre in a new town project named Ado Bayero Royal City which upon completion will comprise 1,270-units of various housing types, including one to four bedroom apartments on three floors and luxury villas.
A list of professional team, contractors and sub contractors:
• B. Stabilini&Company Limited- Main Contractor
• Etco Nigeria Limited- Engineering and Technical Contractors (Sub)
• Stauch Vorster Architectc (SVA)- Project Architects
• Morgan Omonitan& Abe Limited-Civil/Structural Engineers and Project Manager
• WSP Developments Limited-Quantity Surveyors& Project Managers
• Broll Property Services Limited-Leasing Agents
• KOA Consultants Limited- Mechanical& electrical Engineers
• Afrinvest-Financial Advisers
• PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd- External Auditors
