The Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has lauded the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for providing an enabling environment for private businesses to thrive, describing the Minister’s role in facilitating the landmark partnership between Hypercity and Carrefour as commendable.
Speaking on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the franchise signing ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, Gbajabiamila described the collaboration as a “powerful statement of confidence” in the nation’s economy.
In a specific commendation of the FCT leadership, Gbajabiamila singled out Wike for his “pivotal role” in bringing the deal to fruition.
He characterized the Minister as a “deep thinker” whose business-oriented approach to public administration is yielding tangible results for the nation’s capital.
According to the Chief of Staff, “this successful collaboration serves as a direct testament to Wike’s ongoing commitment to reshaping the economic and physical landscape of Abuja.”
The Chief of Staff emphasized that while the partnership is taking root in Abuja, it signals Nigeria’s broader status as the premier investment destination in Africa.
He noted that the FCT is currently “sowing the seed” for a retail revolution that is expected to spread across the country. ”Abuja is sowing the seed, but that seed will grow into a tree with many branches in different cities in Nigeria,” Gbajabiamila remarked.
He further suggested that the retail collaboration is already eyeing expansion into Lagos and other major urban centers in the near future.
The event concluded with a strong message to the global business community.
Highlighting the stability and potential of the Nigerian market under the current administration, the Chief of Staff urged international investors to view Nigeria not merely as a market, but as a stable “home for long-term partnership”.
In his remarks, Managing director of HyperCity Supermarket, Mr. Sunny Chuwla noted that the partnership is expected to serve as a major catalyst for Nigeria’s economic landscape by driving significant investment and industrial growth.
According to him, the collaboration with Carrefour will lead to large-scale job creation for the nation’s workforce and provide expanded market access for local suppliers and producers.
He said the vision includes the immediate opening of new stores in Abuja and other major cities across the federation to promote modern retail growth.
He described the milestone as a “beginning” rather than a finish line, intended to empower local businesses and create a lasting bridge between global excellence and Nigerian opportunity. He adds:
“By combining global operational excellence with local ambition, the initiative aims to build a world-class retail ecosystem that delivers quality products and modern shopping experiences to Nigerian families.
” Mr. Chuwla emphasized that Nigeria has proven itself to be a market of real opportunity rather than just potential, citing the strong growth seen since the opening of their first store in Port Harcourt in 2022.
This partnership represents a shift from observing Nigeria from a distance to actively investing and building within its borders, leveraging global standards to meet the nation’s rising retail demands.
As the partnership enters its next phase, a strategic expansion plan is already in motion, beginning with the transition of existing Port Harcourt stores to the Carrefour brand.
The momentum generated in Abuja is expected to facilitate the retail collaboration’s expansion into other major urban centers, including Lagos, in the near future.
The emergence of Abuja as a retail hub is being presented to the global business community as a model of the stability and potential found within the Nigerian market.
