Wike To Finish VP’s Abandoned Official Residence By May 29th

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has vowed to make funds available for the completion of the previously abandoned building of the Vice President’s official residence by May 29th, 2024.…CONTINUE READING

On Tuesday, Wike made this known during an inspection of the project being managed by Messrs Julius Berger in Abuja.

The Minister, who was accompanied by other senior officials from the FCT Administration, lauded the construction giant for demonstrating a strong commitment to the project’s completion by mobilising to site without being mobilised.

As a result, he promised to make funds available for the project’s completion by December after receiving clearance from the president and the vice president.

The project, which was awarded in 2010 at the cost of N7billion, had since been abandoned over what the previous administrations attributed to paucity of funds.

But the minister said in line with the president Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, he had instructed him to complete all the abandoned projects to raise the people’s hope in the Nigeria project.

He said although the contractor had said the contract sum has to be increased from N7 billion to N15 billion because of rising cost of materials in the market, the Administration is determined to finish the project in record time.

‘’I have come to see the project and we have told them (the contractor) that we will fund them very well before the end of the month so that they will be able to finish it,’’ the minister said.

In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, (FCDA), Engr. Sheu Hadi hinted that the project site has been captured in the original Abuja master plan.

“The original Master Plan of Abuja provides this site as official resident of the vice president,” he said.

Giving the over view of the facility, the Director of Public Building, FCDA, Arch. Adebowale Ademo said: ” Right behing us is the main building, it has three different living rooms on the Ground floor and also the vice president private room and conveniences, and there is also a provision for the second lady private lounge.

“The building over there is the chapel, and the one behind us is the mosque and a dormitory for the security personnel, right behind there there is entrance with the screening in facility for guests that would be coming into the premises. This is what the project entails, it was awarded in 2010.

The representative of the company handling the project, Mr. Oliver Berger, commended the minister’s belief in the project and assured of timely completion of the project.

“We have already mobilized our team, facilities are here, the next step is to order all the equipment required and the finishing products build up, since scheduled is been very tight, so far we are thankful for giving us this opportunity to finalise.