1. The Abuja Boulevards – Introduction
The Abuja Boulevards concept is Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration’s top priority project that was conceived and enshrined in the City’s Master Plan to improve and boost economic and social activities in the FCT. The geographical location of the FCT makes it accessible from/to most of the continents capital cities thus making it Africa’s potential hub for commercial, financial and political activities. The absence of the Boulevards and arterial roads greatly contributed to the non-development of the City Central Area.

The proposed boulevards area is approximately 6.5km long by 0.7km wide, traversing the Eagle Square to the National Hospital. The area comprises four major Axial roads referred to in the Master Plan as Roads B06, B08, B10 and B12 (also named Constitution Avenue, Hospital Avenue North, Hospital Avenue South and Independence Avenue respectively). The proposed boulevards are particularly situated along two of these axial roads – Roads B08 and B10. Their total area is approximately 4.5km (4,550,000m2 or 455 Hectares). The original Master Plan of the city, in recognition of the special features and use of land in this area, demarcated it into mega-plots of 200m x 200m (40,000m2 or 40ha) in size with approximately 50 such mega-plots. Both the design and construction of the boulevards will be done to international standards projected to be completed in two years commencing from December 2008.

2. Objective
The objective of the Abuja Boulevard is to create a dynamic and vibrant multi-use activity center that offers a unique urban experience for residents and visitors that are pedestrian-friendly. They are designed with attractive streetscapes that connect the district neighborhoods of the downtown. In the medium-to long-term, there will be efficient and effective mass transit that will link the various neighborhoods to each other and to regional destinations.

The Abuja Boulevard will be a clean, safe and livable urban setting that will provide economic and social activities around the clock, supporting a wide range of housing opportunities in close proximity to a diversity of ancillary services and retail to residents, as well as cultural and entertainment venues and activities for leisure.

3. Land Allocation
Although a mix-use is approved for the boulevards area, land allocation will be for the following purposes and interested parties are required to indicate their intended use of the land in their submissions of EOI:
· Corporate Offices: - to support the development of global, national and regional headquarters for corporations and entities.
· Retail: - a diversity retail types that provides range of income levels and that serves local, regional and national markets.
· Accommodation: - a range of housing types and costs that serves residents with a variety of income levels, supports the retail environment, and creates an attractive and safe downtown.
· Leisure: - a vibrant multi-use, multi-cultural activity center that offers a clean, safe and distinct urban experience supportive of hotels, restaurants/food courts, clubs, theater, etc.

All lands in the Abuja Boulevard area are subdivided into :
a) Mega Blocks of 4ha (40,000m2)
b) Blocks of 1ha each
c) Blocks of 3,000m2 (minimum).

4. Funding
· The estimated cost for the construction of the engineering infrastructure is N50-N60billion
· The FCTA has resorted to using the private sector for the financing of the project in a PPP arrangement:
· A consortium of banks would be engaged to provide the needed funding for the project
· The project is expected to payback its cost through development levies on the boulevard plots
· Existing development on the boulevards roads will required to pay betterment levies.

5. Method of Application: respondents should indicate their interest by providing following documentation and information:
· Full name of company/person and contact person, postal address, telephone/fax numbers and email addresses.
· Ownership structure of company; name(s) of major shareholders and percentage shareholding (if companies).
· Evidence of ample financial resources for land acquisition and development (Audited Financial Statements for the past five (5) years in case of company or letter of commitment from bank and or bank financial statement in case of individuals).
· Evidence of experience in land acquisition, development and management (experience in land acquisition/development in a boulevard will be an advantage).
· Indication of the land size required ( see Section 3)
· Indication of the uses to which the land will be put (see Section 3).

6. Upon receipt of EOI from respondents, Abuja Infrastructure Investment Center (AIIC) will evaluate and pre-qualify submissions and thereafter, issue a Request for Proposal (REP) and other Bidding documents to successful candidates upon the payment of a non-refundable fee of N250,000 in bank draft to the Federal Capital Territory.

7. An original copy and five (5) other copies of the EOI shall be delivered in a sealed envelope clearly marked “EOI for Acquisition of Land in Abuja Boulevards Area” at the top right corner of the envelope and delivered to the following address not later than Thursday 3rd November, 2008 by 1700hrs local time (1600hrs GMT).

The Coordinator
Abuja Infrastructure Investment Center, 3rd Floor, ITF House, 
No. 6 Adetokumbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II
Abuja – Nigeria, at Room 322;

Tel: +234 –(0)9-671-6161;
+234-(0)9-671-6141; +234-805-271-2266; +234-803-644-3479

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

8. For further information and instructions, applicants are advised to visit the website:
www.aiic.fct.gov.ng

Please note the following:

*. Land previously allocated by the FCTA within the boulevards area are NOT affected.
* Applicants are allowed to bid for more than one parcel of land, however, Expression of Interest for each land must be submitted separately.
* Applicant can apply as a consortium (Foreign or Local)
* Submission of EOI should be in the manner described in section 7 above
* Late submission will be rejected
* Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.