The United States broke ground on a $537 million consulate on Thursday in Nigeria’s megacity of Lagos which is also the country’s commercial hub. The 10-story consulate is being built on a 12.2-acre site in the Eko Atlantic City, a new coastal city being constructed on Victoria Island and includes a 5-mile-long seawall to protect it from rising sea levels and erosion.
Completion of the new consulate is expected in 2027.
A news release from the U.S. Embassy in Abuja said when completed “it will be the largest U.S. Consulate in the world.” 2,500 Nigerians are expected to be employed during the duration of the construction in various capacities including engineers, architects, artisans, construction workers, and administrative staff.
An estimated $95 million will be invested in the local economy, the statement said.
“Our vision for this remarkable Consulate campus is to create a facility that both honors the vibrant relationship between the United States and Nigeria and communicates the spirit of American democracy, transparency and openness,” US Ambassador to Nigeria Mary Beth Leonard said at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Ennead Architects of New York is the design architect and Pernix Federal of Lombard, Illinois, the design-build contractor. EYP of Albany, New York, is the architect of record.
Ambassador Leonard was joined in the groundbreaking by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and U.S. Consul General Claire Pierangelo.
“Nigeria and the United States have a long-standing history of people-to-people engagement fostering bridges between our two nations. We look forward to the many accomplishments we will continue to achieve together in the future,” Consul General Claire Pierangelo said.
Annual trade between Nigeria and the United States stands at $10 billion, according to the State Department.
About Tom Gitaa Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
Born and raised in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, Tom is the Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Mshale which has been reporting on the news and culture of African immigrants in the United States since 1995. He has a BA in Business from Metro State University and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He was the original host of Talking Drum, the signature current affairs show on the African Broadcasting Network (ABN-America), which was available nationwide in the United States via the Dish Network satellite service. On the show, he interviewed Nobel laureates such as 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner, Professor Wangari Maathai, the first woman from Africa to win the peace prize and heads of states. Tom has served and chaired various boards including Global Minnesota (formerly Minnesota International Center), the sixth largest World Affairs Council in the United States. He has previously served as the first Black President of the Board of Directors at Books for Africa. He also serves on the boards of New Vision Foundation and the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium. He has previously served two terms on the board of the United Nations Association. An avid runner, he retired from running full marathons after turning 50 and now only focuses on training for half marathons.
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