The Nation Newspaper

Tag: shopping malls

  • Shopping malls and festivities

    These days most shopping malls play dual role of trade centres as well as entertainment funspots, especially during major festivities. TONIA DIYAN who visited some malls within Lagos metropolis and its environs during the just-concluded Eid-il-Mubarak festival, captures the sight and sound. 

    These days,  shopping malls are fast becoming entertainment power house of some sort.

    The reason is to attract customers. To achieve that, they add something extra particularly during festivals. That extra is entertainment. To get people to buy, you have to get them there, and the entertainment co-efficient in a mall is something that builds traffic. This is the logic behind many malls – something to lure people to the place, then, they can shop.

    The crowd at Ikeja City Mall on Tuesday and Wednesday being Sallah points to this fact. The presence of eateries and cafes will always explain the affinity between shopping and leisure.

    A visit to the Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall, Surulere, Lagos, was enthralling as well as revealing because it became the preferred destination for residents who not only wanted to shop but to get a dose of entertainment too. The mall became an instant hit with its music, lightings and appealing ambience which made people contented to just look around, window shop or simply relax.

    The cinemas at Leisure Mall also in Adeniran Ogunsanya in Surulere as well as the array of eateries  at the mall were among the side attractions that endeared many there. The idea is to get people there and actual shopping could follow; and what could really lure people if not a conducive environment to unwind, and an inviting place to shop?

    For example, Stand Up Nigeria comedy show at the cinema at the City Mall, Onikan, draws a good number of people to the mall.

    Same goes with child care stores. Children’s clothiers, such as Jack N Jill, Kids Country. Play Zone which entertains the children with games and all kinds of toys to play with while their parents shopped for them.

    Mrs Ereduwa Gbadebo, former  Broll Cheif Executive Officer in charge of shopping malls in the country once said:  “We are trying to push a retail revolution; create a fun place where people can come in with their families to shop and have fun. It comprises the cinema, the textile shops, restaurants and a lot of other relaxation and shopping centres. That is what my company, Broll is trying to lead – a destination centre where you have to come in the morning and don’t have to leave till evening; something different that we are proud of. “The whole family can go shopping together. Take the children along. They can spend like two hours at the cinema watching a good movie. You can go to the jewellery store, there are clothing stores, shoes stores, super market, computer electronics and other items you need. When you are  done with shopping, go pick your children and visit the restaurant or eatery. It is all encompassing”.

    Many people who spoke to The Nation Shopping at these shopping malls affirmed that they are mostly there to catch some fun. “Of course, I come here to shop but the place is fun packed, I also want to catch some fun at the bar upstair,”said Mr Kayode Ogunlaja, at Ikeja City Mall.

    For Mrs Romoke Abdulkareem, at days like these, there is more to the mall than just shopping. “I am a retailer on the Mainland. Aside shopping and having fun, I have come here to catch inspiration for my business. For instance, I have added a lounge as an extension of my store; it even attracts more people who relax, wine, dine and eventually shop!” she exclaimed.

    Like Mr Ogunlaja, shopping centres incorporate dining and entertainment to their mix to make their centres recreational shopping destinations and to drive frequency of visits and length-of-stay. “Today, we are moving to an experience economy where what consumers want are experiences-memorable experiences which engage them in an inherently personal way”. Joe Pine, noted in his book, ‘The Experience Economy’.

    Some shopping malls  devote up to 35 per cent or more of their ‘store’ GLA to entertainment, restaurants and cinemas. When entertainment is incorporated into a shopping complex, it is sometimes referred to as a retail entertainment center (RECs).

    With over 75 per cent of shopping trips and purchase decisions being made by women, it is important to meet a woman’s needs at shopping destinations. This often also means meeting the needs of children when they accompany their mother on a shopping trip. Experts are also rising up in shopping centre design, development and management, market research, designing family-friendly facilities for entertainment, education and play.

    What originally began as a method to keep children busy while their parents shopped has evolved into experiential retail – creating an environment that kids and their parents enjoy being in and that they won’t soon forget.

     

     

  • Shopping malls: Ogun to revoke unused allocations

    The Ogun State government is set to revoke the shops allocated to some traders in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    This followed the expiration of the six-month moratorium given to allottees of the recently-built government ultra-modern shopping malls and shops.

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Facility Management, Mr. Segun Adebayo, issued an ultimatum to erring allottees who  failed to put the facility to use eight months after they got the allocation.

    The 72-hour ultimatum to all allottees to move in or risk revocation expired yesterday.

    A statement signed by the Head of Media in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ayokunle Ewuoso, said the government could no longer tolerate the lack of commitment by the affected traders. Governor Ibikunle Amosun last March, inaugurated and allocated 1,050 shops and stalls to traders whose shops were destroyed for the construction of roads in Omida, Shapon, Kemta, Itokun and Isele-Igbehin, all in Abeokuta.

    “So, if you are given such opportunity since April and you didn’t utilise it, but only took the allocation and locked up these shops, it means that you are not interested in the shop and allocation,” Adebayo said.

    He said about 40 percent of the  shops had not been occupied, adding that many members of the public have continued to show interest and that the government could not afford to fold it arms and watch it money go down the drain.

    A breakdown of the shops shows that in Omida, 52 shops were allocated while 27 of these remained unused by the allottees; in Imo, six out of 36 allocated are under lock and key.The story is not different in Laderin where only 12 out of the 48 shops has been occupied.

    Kemta-Oloko has just four shops occupied out of the 48 shops allocated. Similarly, in Itoku, of the 130 shops allocated, only 82 have been occupied and opened for business, while Sapon has 45 occupiers out of the 91 allocations with Isele -Igbehin having 37 occupied shops from the 64 already allocated to traders.

  • EFCC seizes two shopping malls from INEC chief

    EFCC seizes two shopping malls from INEC chief

    •Freezes N49m in account
    •INEC staff, ex-Military Administrator refund N503m

    Two choice shopping malls allegedly acquired by a serving Resident Electoral Commissioner with her share of a bribe dished out by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of last year’s general elections, have been seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    A sum of N49 million found in the bank account of the REC, Gesil Khan, has also been frozen by the EFCC.

    A total of N23.29b was disbursed under the poll bribery scam allegedly facilitated by ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, of which N185, 842,000 went to Khan.

    The anti-graft agency applied to the Federal High Court, Yenagoa for Interim Forfeiture Order in line with sections 26 and 29 of the EFCC Act to take over the account and the buildings which are located in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

    The order was granted, The Nation gathered yesterday.

    Other beneficiaries of the largesse in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and some PDP stalwarts are said to have refunded N503million to EFCC.

    Of the N503 million thus refunded, N200million came from a former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga ( rtd).

    A total of N450million was allegedly traced to him.

    The EFCC is yet to conclude its investigation of the INEC staff and PDP stalwarts who were implicated in the poll bribery scandal.

    Khan and other INEC officers are being   probed for allegedly collecting N681million altogether.

    The other INEC officers already grilled in connection with the matter  are: Fidelia Omoile (Electoral Officer in Isoko-South Local Government Area of Delta State)-N112,480,000 ; Uluochi Obi Brown (INEC’s Administrative Secretary in Delta State)-N111,500,000; a former Deputy Director  of INEC in Cross River State, Edem Okon Effanga-N241,127,000 and the Head of Voter Education in INEC in Akwa Ibom, Immaculata Asuquo-N214,127,000.

    A source familiar with the case said: “We have been able to trace two choice shopping malls in Yenagoa to the affected REC Khan. Following the development, we applied to a Federal High Court for Interim Forfeiture Order in line with sections 26 and 29 of the EFCC Act.

    “The court has granted our prayers to seize the two malls and appoint managers to take care of the properties in order to generate more revenue either for the government or the owner depending on how the trial ends.

    “We  do not want the assets to lie fallow hence we recruited managers to be in charge until investigation and trial are concluded.

    “During investigation, we discovered N49million in the account of REC Khan. Since she could not fully account for the sources of the money, we have frozen the account in line with our mandate.

    “We are treating the money as likely proceeds of bribery or money laundering. The account will remain frozen until a court of law decides otherwise based on facts we will present during her trial.”

    Sections 26 and 29 of the EFCC Act read in part:  “Any property subject to forfeiture under this Act may be seized by the commission in the following circumstances- (a) the seizure is incidental to an arrest or search; or (b) in the case of property liable to forfeiture upon process issued by the Court following an application made by the Commission in accordance with the prescribed rules

    “Whenever property is seized under any of the provisions of this Act, the Commission may- (a) place the property under seal; or (b) remove the property to a place designated by the Commission.

    “Properties taken or detained under this section shall be deemed to be in custody of the Commission, subject only to an order of a Court.”

    Sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004 empower the anti-graft agency to invoke Interim Assets Forfeiture Clause.

    “Section 28 of the EFCC Act reads: ‘Where a person is arrested for an offence under this Act, the Commission shall immediately trace and attach all the assets and properties of the person acquired as a result of such economic or financial crime and shall thereafter cause to be obtained an interim attachment order from the Court.’

    Section 13 of the Federal High Court Act reads in part : “The Court may grant an injunction or appoint a receiver by an interlocutory order in all cases in which it appears to the Court to be just or convenient so to do.

    (2)”Any such order may be made either unconditionally or on such terms and conditions as the Court thinks just.”

    Investigation showed that about N503million has so far been recovered from the INEC staff and some PDP stalwarts by the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the anti-graft agency.

    The source added: “The Port Harcourt Zonal office has done excellently well in line with the vision of the EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu. It has so far recovered about N904million from January to August 17, including N503million from INEC staff and politicians involved in the poll bribery scandal.

    “Out of the N503million, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd) refunded N200million from the N450million traced to him.

    “Nkanga allegedly collected the money in two tranches, from a staff of Fidelity Bank in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State: Mr. Saint- Anthony Ejiowu.

     

     

    “The first tranche of the money, a sum of N350,000,000 was collected on March 27, 2015 while the second tranch of N100,000,000 was collected on March 31, 2015. Nkanga signed for the two tranches.

    “We will soon release the list of INEC staff that have refunded cash. But we have been sending brief to INEC management on all their staff under investigation and the status of each case.

    “So far, INEC management is cooperating with us. When it is time to arraign such staff in court, we hope they will release them accordingly.”

     

     

  • ‘Shopping malls remain huge attraction in Aba city’

    ‘Shopping malls remain huge attraction in Aba city’

    Dr. Wasiu Babalola is the Managing Director, Africa Swiss International Hotel and Resorts, which just signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture to resuscitate the ailing Enyimba Hotel, among other projects. In this interview with Sunny Nwankwo, he speaks on the prospects and opportunities in Aba, the hub of commerce and industry in Southeast.

    Attraction in Aba

    Swiss International has been in Africa since   2012 and we have been to different states, but we have not been to the South East. So, it is a strategic move  considering the location of Aba, being so close to so many areas in the South East and South South. Secondly, most international companies believe that if you are not in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos, which are the primary markets, you cannot make it. But it is not true.

    But more specifically, we are in Aba to kick start the remodeling and expansion of former Enyimba International Hotel, now Swiss International, Enyimba, Aba. I said so because it used to be Enyimba Hotels, but since we entered into partnership with the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), the identity of the place changed automatically.

    It is going to be developed into a five-star hotel and probably would be turning Aba into, not only a commercial centre of the Southeast, but also a conference centre that can accommodate people of about 1000 capacity. There will be swimming pool, squash course and shopping arcades, amongst others. What we are doing is that, we are trying to change the face of hotel business in Aba and the state at large. Aba should not only be known as a business city, but a place where people can come to relax.

     

    Terms of ownership

    The hotel is under a private partnership arrangement. But in terms of ownership, it belongs to Enyimba International Hotel and Aba Chamber of Commerce. Of course, after the inuaguration, a sizable percentage will be owned by Enyimba International Hotel and Aba Chamber of Commerce. The contract is something that we have been discussing for two years considering the interest of Aba people in terms of employment. We are coming with the first hospitality school in the Southeast that will have an international backing. It is direct investment and we will be injecting N6billion into Abia State’s economy. Other things being equal, this project should be delivered in about 18 months.

     

    Budget

    At last count, we were looking in excess of N6billion because the one (building) we already have is in carcass. Only the building is standing. We are going to also complete the extension and on the other side of it. We intend to build executive suites and a presidential lodge. You know that Abia is surrounded by four states, namely: Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi. So, if their governors should attend events at the same time in Aba, they can comfortably pass the night at the presidential suites.

    We are also going to increase the rooms from 105 to 141. There will also be a conference hall that will contain over a thousand people and this will prove that we are ready to host international conferences in Aba.

    By the end of the remodeling, there will be a swimming pool, a squash course, shopping malls, a club house at the basement, and we are also creating what we call Enyimba Village or city, a lawn tennis course and a football field so that the idea of Aba being a football loving city, which hosts Enyimba Football Club (FC) will be maintained. We anticipate the school to be open like four to six months before the hotel becomes operational so that we will train the manpower that will fit into what we are looking at.

     

    Our antecedent in business

    This is not the first project that we are embarking upon since we came to Nigeria. There is a 320-bedroom hotel in Abuja that we are also handling. When it comes to Swiss International, we don’t talk to clients because we are only interested in your money. We understand the financial situation in Nigeria, that Nigeria doesn’t have a long term investment strategy for those investing in a hotel. And that is why we have on our platform investors, financial consultants, who have access to different kinds of funds that will protect a long-term interest of whatever venture we want and they all work with us.

    On the fund we are infusing into Aba Enyimba Hotel, it is an investment fund that Aba people may want to pull out after seven years, even if you want to buy any fund you can and take full ownership and I can tell you that Abia people own a very sizable number of investment in this property that you cannot change anything without their consent.

  • Shopping malls spring up like mushrooms

    Shopping malls spring up like mushrooms

     Over the last decade, shopping malls have evolved in the country, springing up across the states. TONIA ‘DIYAN reports that the ubiquity of shopping malls has redefined shopping experience, created wealth, convenience and has given customers more freedom to choose.

    There have been many developments in the retail sector since the advent of shopping malls 10 years ago when The Palms Shopping Mall, Lekki, Lagos opened shop. Before then, retail outlets were mainly urban-based – in major cities of the country. Today, the game has changed with many malls opening shop in second tier cities, such as Enugu, Kano, Warri, Owerri, Onitsha, Ilorin and Ibadan.

    The retail business space continues to transform with the development of formal, western-style malls that also serve as popular hangouts and meeting points for busy chief executives, especially at weekends and during holidays. And the emergence of world-class shopping places has changed the way people shop, causing a tremendous boom in the industry  and establishing Nigeria as a haven for retail shopping. Nigerians have, today, become better shoppers, especially in the area of buying at wholesale prices, not minding the quantity of items purchased.

    In addition to the popularity of the malls, the developers say they are finding fulfillment more in Nigeria than any other country in Africa, where they have their businesses. According to them, more malls will spring up and they will be the trend for a long time.

    After the two premier malls in Lagos, the retail trading scene has seen many more. While some have been delivered, many are at various stages of completion. Some of them stand out for reasons of size, strategic location, convenience and available infrastructure, among others.

    Apapa mall, Lagos

    The mall berthed in the Apapa area of Lagos has changed the face of retail in Nigeria’s premier port city.

    Before residents and workers in Apapa which is home to an estimated 522,384 people, according to data from the state government website, didn’t have a world-class retail outlet to serve their shopping and relaxing needs.

    This has, however, changed because shoppers experiences in Apapa and its environs have been enhanced.

    The Palms Mall, Lekki

    Towards the end of 2005, The Palms was opened, making history as the first of its kind in Nigeria. It is anchored by a South African supermarket chain, Shoprite, and diverse range of Nigerian retailers as well as international brands, such as Adidas and KFC, South African restaurant Spur, banks, pharmacies and mobile phone companies, such as MTN and Etisalat. Yudala, an offline retail store, has also opened shop there.

    Construction was commissioned by the Oba of Lagos and former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The mall has 69 stores and a six screen cinema. There is parking space for about a 1000 cars.

    Grand Towers, Abuja

    After Lagos, Abuja was next; being one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. At that time, there were not really any shopping centres in Abuja. It was a big drive for Shoprite to open there. Grand Towers owns the land on which the shopping centre stands.

    Port Harcourt Mall

    Port Harcourt Mall (also known as Artee Mall) is in accordance with Spar’s strategy for Nigeria. Spar stores in Nigeria as with its other stores in Sub-Saharan Africa position themselves as a higher quality alternative to the dominance of Shoprite.

    Port Harcourt Mall features 16,000 sqm of lettable space and hosts cinemas (Film houses) and eateries.

    Kwara Mall, Ilorin

    Kwara Mall in Illorin, Kwara State capital, began trading in the last quarter of 2012. It is a 12,000 square-metre shopping mall. It is remodeled after American strip malls and is a joint venture between Persians Group and the Kwara State government, which gave the land as equity contribution to the project.

    Shoprite is also the mall’s anchor tenant, among other brands like Max, KFC, Wrangler, Da Viva, and a host of others. Great customer experiences are offered by the banks, restaurants, beauty salons, meeting places and more.

    Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall, Surulere

    The mall is sitting on a 22,000 sq. metres of land with 154 shop spaces measuring 70-80 sq. metres each, making it one of the largest shopping malls in Lagos. The re-modeled mall delivers world-standard shopping experience to residents of Surulere and its environs. This is evident in its tenant-base, which includes top brands such as Shoprite, Snowy Drycleaners, Stanbic IBTC Bank, KFC, Nando’s, La Pizza, Sharp Electronics, Sony, Swatch, Nike, and others.

    The mall is an offshoot of a pre-existing shopping centre that was “conceived, built and inaugurated in 1975 as the icing on the cake for Surulere residents”.

  • Southwest governors to open N3b shopping malls

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his counterparts in Osun, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti will on Thursday inaugurate the Heritage and Cocoa malls in Ibadan.

    The twin malls are the largest in the five states. They are on a land mass of 12,000 square metres.

    They were built by the Odu’a Group of Companies, owned by Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Ogun states.

    The malls are located beside the famous Cocoa House, on the premises of the Odu’a Group’s corporate headquarters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Speaking with reporters at the weekend, the company’s Group Managing Director (GMD), Adebayo Jimoh, said the malls cost N3 billion.

    Jimoh said the malls were monuments that would strengthen the Yoruba heritage as envisioned by the company’s founding fathers.

    He said the malls became a reality through his team’s Property Redeployment Project (PRP), which has redeveloped many of the company’s property into modern business complexes and residential estates across the Southwest.

    Jimoh said the company was established as a catalyst for development in the region, as well as to create jobs and other opportunities.

    Explaining why the group embarked on the project, GMD said it was to make life easier for expatriates and the elite living in Ibadan, who used to go to Lagos to shop.

    He said there was also the need to build on the investments inherited from the founding fathers to ensure that “future generations continue to savour the great Yoruba heritage”.

    Jimoh said: “Odu’a is committed to sustaining the dreams of our founding fathers in promoting economic advancement of Southwest states.”

    He said the malls were named in line with previous projects, which promote the Yoruba culture, and cocoa, which is the mainstay of the Southwest’s economy.