Aliyu Abubakar Finally Admits Ownership Of Imposing Architectural Masterpiece In Abuja

The imposing edifice that sits majestically on Gana Street, Maitama District of Abuja, adjacent Transcorp-Hilton Hotel, has been a mystery for a while now as its ownership was shrouded in uttermost secrecy just as the structure itself while it was undergoing construction.

But that is no longer the case as the owner of the architectural masterpiece has been identified as Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, the chairman of AA Oil Limited.

According to Aliyu, he purchased the plot of land where the structure is erected in 2005 from an indigene of Zamfara State at a cost of N1 billion and denied that he was fronting for corrupt politicians adding that he financed the building from his personal savings, as he did not obtain any mortgage from any bank.

A trained building technologist, Aliyu’s businesses span oil and gas, real estate, telecommunications and so on and he intends to use the building as the corporate headquarters of his companies.

Boasting on the uniqueness of his edifice, Aliyu says, “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 in overseas countries 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 would however not disclose the monetary value of the building even as he revealed that he had been under tremendous pressure from both private individuals and public organisations to either sell or lease the property to them.

According to him, his response had always been that the property is for personal use only. “We will occupy all the floors from the beginning to the end,” he said.

Confronted with the claim that he is fronting for some senior government officials, Aliyu denied the allegation. “I will never front for anyone. I am on my own. I can never stand for anybody and, for this project, let me tell you that the funding is entirely from my own pocket. Yes, people have approached me and some have sent messages to me that I stole public money, but I have never worked in any public organisation before.”