The nation’s capital,Abuja, recently got a major boost in retail trade with the opening of the multi-billion naira shopping mall, Grand Towers Abuja Mall, which is expected to set a new regime in shopping retail pricing in the bustling Federal Capital Territory.

A private sector initiative involving international and Nigerian investors, the mall with 8,300 square metres of let-able space, has 42 shops covering a retail mix of food, fashion,  electronics, sports equipment, entertainment, banks and many others.

Retailers such as anchor tenant Shoprite from South Africa, Adidas, Kentucky Fried Chicken, restaurant chain Spur, telecom operators such as MTN and Etisalat, banks and pharmacies, amongst others, have opened shops in the mall.

The Chief Executive of Grand Towers Realty Limited, Mr Stanley Duru, said a major benefit of the mall was that Abuja is inhabited mostly by middle and upper income earners who would avail themselves of opportunities provided by the new mall’s cost efficiency and convenience.

“Shopping malls are not really a new phenomenon in Nigeria as we had malls in the 70s and 80s, but they all closed down at some point. Nigerians have really taken to this way of shopping and we are seeing brands becoming more confident about entering the Nigerian market,” he stated.

He added that the whole idea was to replicate the shopping opportunities available in the developed economies in Nigeria and offer Nigerians the benefits of easy access to quality goods at affordable prices.