The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has lauded the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for creating an enabling environment for private businesses to thrive, describing his role in facilitating the partnership between Hypercity and Carrefour as commendable.
Gbajabiamila stated this in Abuja on Tuesday at the franchise signing ceremony, where he represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the collaboration as a powerful statement of confidence in Nigeria’s economy.
He highlighted the FCT’s growing role as a hub for investment, noting that the partnership reflects broader efforts to position Nigeria as a leading destination for business in Africa.
“This successful collaboration serves as a direct testament to Wike’s ongoing commitment to reshaping the economic and physical landscape of Abuja,” he said.
Gbajabiamila described the FCT Minister as a deep thinker whose business-oriented approach to governance is delivering tangible results in the nation’s capital.
He further said that while the partnership is taking root in Abuja, it signals Nigeria’s broader status as a premier investment destination, with the FCT laying the foundation for a retail transformation across the country.
“Abuja is sowing the seed, but that seed will grow into a tree with many branches in different cities in Nigeria,” the Chief of Staff to the President stated.
He noted that the collaboration is already positioning itself for expansion into Lagos and other major urban centres in the near future.
The Chief of Staff also urged international investors to see Nigeria as a stable destination for long-term partnerships, highlighting the country’s economic potential under the current administration.
“Nigeria is not just a market, but a home for long-term partnership,” he said.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of HyperCity Supermarket, Mr Sunny Chuwla, said the partnership would serve as a catalyst for economic growth by driving investment and industrial expansion.
He said the collaboration with Carrefour would generate employment opportunities and expand market access for local suppliers and producers.
Chuwla added that plans were underway for the immediate opening of new stores in Abuja and other major cities to promote modern retail growth.
“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,” he said.
He described the partnership as a beginning rather than an endpoint, aimed at empowering local businesses and strengthening connections between global standards and Nigerian enterprise.
Chuwla noted that Nigeria had demonstrated strong market potential, citing growth recorded since the opening of the company’s first store in Port Harcourt in 2022.
He said the partnership marked a transition from observing Nigeria’s market to actively investing and expanding within it.
As part of the next phase, he said a strategic expansion plan had commenced with the transition of existing Port Harcourt stores to the Carrefour brand.
He added that the momentum generated in Abuja would support further expansion into other major urban centres, including Lagos.
The emergence of Abuja as a retail hub, he said, reflects the stability and growing potential of Nigeria’s market, presenting a model for global investors seeking long-term opportunities.