Abuja — Commercial and business outfits around the Area 10 shopping complex in Abuja have expressed dismay over the non-completion of the proposed multi-level car park project initiated by the FCT Administration, which according to them, is causing them severe hardship.

The said multi-level car park, being constructed by D & B Ltd. on a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement with Abuja Investment Limited, was to have been completed in December, 2006. However, up till now not much work has been done as the site appears abandoned and little or no work is being done.

Daily Trust investigation reveals that a group, Concerned Tenants of Area 10, had on February 6, 2009, sent a petition to the office of the FCT Minister appealing for the barricade to be removed and ensuring that the work on the project is completed quickly.

The petitioners aid that in a bid to commence the said project, the following complexes ( i.e. Plot 2009 Cadastral Zone A1, Noble Complex i.e. Plot 2100 Cadastral Zone A1, UTC Building, Union Bank Building i.e. Plot 2100 Cadastral Zone A1) were all barricaded allowing for only pedestrian access to the said properties.

The petitioners said "This has in turn crippled economic activities at the said properties and caused untold hardship to the occupants whose businesses have continued to dwindle due to inaccessibility of the said buildings."

When contacted, MD/CEO Abuja Investment Limited (AIL), Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, said a BOT agreement was signed with D&B Nig. Ltd in 2005 for the provision of a multi-level car park but that the company has been missing deadlines therefore AIL has commenced discussion on how to terminate the contract and award it to a competent firm.

He said the place was originally earmarked for a car park in the Abuja master plan to service all the commercial outlets around the area.