The Maitama District of Abuja is best known as the
playground of the rich and famous. A district well
developed with a lot of magnificent architectural
master pieces which never cease to amaze
passersby. UGBOJA FELIX OJONUGWA writes on
one building that has left many comments in its
wake.
Among several jaw-dropping edifices in Abuja, the
very popular exotic-looking building on Gana
street, adjacent to the Transcorp Hilton Hotel
stands out like a castle on the hill.
According to a number of taxi drivers in Abuja, it
is very difficult to drive a passenger past the
building without hearing, “wow what sort of
mighty house is this?” …”Who owns this expensive
building?”…”What is this building meant for?” And
the questions go on and on.
Most
Expensive Building In AbujaWithout a doubt, there
could be more expensive buildings in the city, but
the strategic location of this one, how monumental
it looks, and the lack of clear details about its use
makes it even more interesting.
The assumptions surrounding what the building
could be are quite numerous. For such a structure
to look like that, a museum, library or a public
memorial building would readily come to mind but
these are mere guesses.
A number of people who spoke to LEADERSHIP
Friday aired their different and very interesting
opinions about what they think of the building.
“I think it belongs to the Pope,” said Abalaka
Julius, with an innocent smile.
“This building? It belongs to Okocha, na,” Chima
Eze says with every level of confidence he could
muster.
“Someone told me that it belongs to IBB, the former
president,” said Oyilonla Damola.
“It belongs to AA Oil,” said Ali, a taxi driver.
There is no unanimous stand among several people
spoken to about who and what the building is all
about.
In the quest to know more, LEADERSHIP Friday
went to Development Control Abuja to inquire
about the building. From there, LEADERSHIP
Friday was further directed to Maitama District
office, where a staff revealed that the building
most likely belongs to a certain Aliyu Abubakar,
chairman of AA Oil Limited.
Looking at the nature of the building, its
environment adorned with statues and a terrace
lawn, one could tell that the material for erecting
such a building were solely imported and its design
also inspired by that in a foreign country just as
Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar would admit in an online
interview sometime ago retrieved from
nairaland.com.
According to the chairman of AA Oil Limited, he
said he acquired the plot of land where the
structure is erected in 2005 from an indigene of
Zamfara State at a cost of N1 billion.
The interview further revealed that Aliyu, who
trained as a building technologist before venturing
into oil business, said that he financed the building
from his personal savings, as he did not obtain any
mortgage from any bank.
“This building belongs to me. I bought the land
occupying this building around 2005 from one man
from Zamfara State. I bought it for N1billion
because of the location. Thereafter, a thought came
to me. By the way, I am a builder. I specialise in
building houses of model quality. Any house I build
is usually very special.”
“The whole idea about that is just for everyone to
know that it is very possible to replicate the type of
things we see overseas in Nigeria. So, I resolved
that since I had the opportunity of acquiring this
land, I would put up a structure that would be
equal to none in the entire city and maybe the
country.” He said.
Without doubt, the building has generated a lot of
interest and has remained popular among
enthusiasts in the city of Abuja.
If the purchase of land could be worth as much as
a billion naira, one could only imagine how much
it would cost to put up such a magnificent edifice
on it. Certainly millions of dollars.
With the level of security surrounding the building,
and a gate manned by stern-looking security
personnel, it was impossible for LEADERSHIP
Friday to gain access into the building. But a
number of people spoken to revealed that Aliyu
Abubakar does come around, although it is unclear
if the building is entirely a private residence or
whether some offices occupy some spaces within.