The on-going renovation of the City Mall, Onikan, Lagos, has attained a new milestone with the recent commissioning of new escalators at the facility.
Speaking at a brief ceremony to mark the launch of the new escalators Mr. Emmanuel Efuntayo, Principal Consultant, Ibukun Efuntayo and Co.
who are the facility managers of the City Mall, said that the mall is being refurbished in order to enhance the facility, as well as to attract notable brands that already exist in other shopping malls in the country.
He said: “Lagos is experiencing the resurgence of shopping malls as it is obtainable in the Western world. There are brands that were seemingly absent in the country before now but which have become visible through these malls.
“The City Mall has been in existence for many years but it is now being re-positioned as a frontline mall. It is anticipated that footfalls within the mall would increase after completion. The mall is strategically located and it has the capacity to get huge revenue for shops domiciled in it,” he added.
Speaking on the available spaces, Kayode Ogundele, Leasing Manager, Ibukun Efuntayo & Co. made it known that there would be prime shops and office suites for lease.
He said: “The idea of the mall is to develop a facility that serves the need of all classes of customers. The mall will also be complementary, such that, goods of different kinds would be sold within the premises. Many brands will be occupying their spaces starting from January 2015. Spaces are still available for lease in various sizes.”
Architect Ola Jones, of Xvalue Limited, The Project Management Consultants to the project, disclosed that, although the City Mall is architecturally different from other malls, the internal ambience will be the same once customers gain access to the mall.
He said: “City Mall is being given a facelift for the convenience of prospective customers. It is important to ensure that every shop within the mall is accessible to everyone. The lighting system, the toilets and escalators are being refurbished to ensure that the mall is of international standard.”
A customer at the mall, Otunba Opeodu Odugbemi, said the revamping of the mall would benefit both the customers and the shops. He predicted that the footfalls within the premises would increase with the installation of the new escalators.
He added: “I am delighted to see the restructuring of the City Mall.
This edifice has the potential of generating more revenue with this revamping exercise. It will attract more customers after this upgrade is completed. The diverse products available in the mall for all categories of customers will also serve to significantly improve patronage.”