April 01, (THEWILL) – At a historic groundbreaking ceremony, highlighting the enduring bilateral relations between the United States and Nigeria, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday, joined U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard and U.S. Consul General, Claire Pierangelo, to officially mark the beginning of construction of a modern U.S. Consulate in Lagos.
The $537million project, located on a 12.2-acre site in Eko Atlantic City, will support diplomatic and commercial relations between the United States and Nigeria and will provide U.S. and Nigerian Consulate employees with a safe, secure, sustainable, and modern workplace.
The construction project will take approximately five years, with completion expected in 2027.
Ennead Architects LLP of New York is the design architect, Pernix Federal, LLC of Lombard, Illinois, is the design/build contractor, and EYP, Inc. of Albany, New York, is the architect of record.
A statement by the US Department of State said, “A variety of energy efficiency strategies will be incorporated into the site and building design to address varied seasonal conditions and to significantly reduce energy demand.
“The new Consulate construction project will directly benefit the Nigerian people. Over the course of construction, an estimated $95 million will be invested in the local economy through local subcontractors, and suppliers.
“Overall, the project will employ approximately 2,500 Nigerian citizens, including engineers, architects, artisans, construction workers, and administrative staff.
“Since the start of the Department’s Capital Security Construction Program in 1999, OBO has completed 171 new diplomatic facilities. OBO currently has more than 50 active projects either in the design phase or under construction worldwide.
“OBO provides safe, secure, functional, and resilient facilities that represent the U.S. government to the host nation and that support U.S. diplomats in advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives abroad.”
In her remarks, Leonard expressed appreciation to the Government of Nigeria and the Lagos State Government for their support.
The envoy says the vision is to create a facility that honours the vibrant ties between the two nations and “communicates the spirit of American democracy, transparency and openness.”
Pierangelo told the gathering that Nigeria and the U.S. 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”, the official said.
On completion, the building will be the largest United States consulate in the world.
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