By Stanley Onyekwere
Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has declared that Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has solidified its position as the primary gateway for international investment and a burgeoning hub for global retail, which is a testament to FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike’s commitment to reshaping both the economic and physical landscape of Abuja.
He made this assertion following the formal signing of a landmark partnership between Hypercity and Carrefour.
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the franchise signing ceremony on Tuesday, Gbajabiamila highlighted the city’s pivotal role in signaling Nigeria’s status as the premier destination for enterprise on the continent.
In a significant commendation of the FCT leadership, Gbajabiamila identified Minister Nyesom Wike as the driving force behind the successful deal.
He described the Minister as a “deep thinker” whose business-oriented approach to governance is yielding tangible results for the nation’s capital.
The Chief of Staff noted that Wike’s “pivotal role” in bringing the Hypercity-Carrefour collaboration to fruition serves as a direct testament to his commitment to reshaping both the economic and physical landscape of Abuja.
According to him, “Under the current leadership, Abuja is now “sowing the seed” for a retail revolution intended to transcend the city’s borders.”
Gbajabiamila emphasized that while this world-class retail partnership is taking root in the FCT, it is designed to grow into a “tree with many branches” across Nigeria.
He said: “By successfully hosting this international franchise, the FCT has demonstrated that Nigeria is not merely a market to be entered, but a stable “home for long-term partnership”.
In his remarks, Managing director of HyperCity realtail chain, Mr. Sunny Chawla, noted that the partnership is expected to serve as a major catalyst for Nigeria’s economic landscape by driving significant investment and industrial growth.
According to him, the collaboration with Carrefour will lead to large-scale job creation for the nation’s workforce and provide expanded market access for local suppliers and producers.
He said the vision includes the immediate opening of new stores in Abuja and other major cities across the federation to promote modern retail growth.
He described the milestone as a “beginning” rather than a finish line, intended to empower local businesses and create a lasting bridge between global excellence and Nigerian opportunity.
He adds: “By combining global operational excellence with local ambition, the initiative aims to build a world-class retail ecosystem that delivers quality products and modern shopping experiences to Nigerian families.”
Mr. Chawla emphasized that Nigeria has proven itself to be a market of real opportunity rather than just potential, citing the strong growth seen since the opening of their first store in Port Harcourt in 2022.
This partnership represents a shift from observing Nigeria from a distance to actively investing and building within its borders, leveraging global standards to meet the nation’s rising retail demands.
As the partnership enters its next phase, a strategic expansion plan is already in motion, beginning with the transition of existing Port Harcourt stores to the Carrefour brand.
The momentum generated in Abuja is expected to facilitate the retail collaboration’s expansion into other major urban centers, including Lagos, in the near future.
The emergence of Abuja as a retail hub is being presented to the global business community as a model of the stability and potential found within the Nigerian market.
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