FG to complete VP Shettima’s N15bn official residence soon

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Saturday revealed that Vice President Shettima Kashim’s official residence would be ready by May 2024.

He said this during the inspection of three ongoing projects in the FCT.

The projects include the FCT Highway 105 (11km six-lane dual carriageway) linking the Airport Expressway to Kuje and the official residence of the vice president.

Wike had in November 2023 said that the vice president’s official residence would cost N15 billion.

While giving an update on the project, the minister said he was very happy with the speed and quality of work and commended the contractors.

He noted that the contractors have also assured that the Wuye/Wuse flyover, which is 85 per cent complete, and the vice president’s official residence, will be ready by May 2024.

The minister further stated that the FCT Highway 105 would open up the Kuje area and bring a lot of changes to the FCT.

“I have to commend the various contractors, the Arab Contractors and Julius Berger. The first site we went to is almost 85 percent complete, one of those interchanges in Wuye District. The contractors are keeping faith with their commitment to hand over the project by May.

“And then we also went to the Kuje road which is the six-lane road. It’s about 11 kilometers. That road from the airport road down to Kuje will open up that area of the Area Council. The last time when I went to flag off one of the rural roads, we didn’t see much about the contractors and I did say that the contractors are not serious. But going back there today, one is very impressed with the level of work and the quality of work. I’m quite impressed with what I saw”.

Speaking further, wike said the contractors handling the vice president’s official residence were at the stage of electrical installations.

“We were at the VP’s residence which is being handled by Julius Berger, and like I said, they have made further commitment that by May, they are going to hand over. Why we may not be seeing enough of what we think should be improvements is because they are concentrating on electrical cables. In the next two, or three weeks, you will see a lot of changes. They are known for quality and we are really financing them well”.

He reiterated that no ongoing project in the FCT would be abandoned, adding that projects that are considered as priority have been included in the FCT’s 2024 statutory budget for adequate funding.

“We have always said that we are not going to allow any project to be abandoned. We have taken our priorities and most of these projects are also being included in our 2024 statutory budget, which will soon be presented to the National Assembly by Mr. President when he returns from Qatar,” he said.

Wike further addressed the concern of residents over the seeming delay in the road resurfacing exercise, particularly in the Asokoro District. He assured that the project would also be ready by May.

He said, “What we have said is that these things will be completed before or handed over by May. If you look at the AYA road, it’s being handled by Julius Berger and you know their own style of work, they like to scrape and then take it all together when they want to asphalt.

“So, it is not as if it has been abandoned. When they want to asphalt, they take all at the same time. So, there is nothing like abandonment. What is important to us is if they are going to meet up to the date that they have committed themselves.

“Frankly speaking, I’m very happy with the quality and the speed. By May, a lot of Nigerians will see the changes as far as the FCT is concerned”.

The Minister was accompanied on the road inspection tour by the Executive Secretary of FCDA, Engr. Hadi Shehu Ahmed, the Director of Engineering, Engr. Obiora Ezeoha, former Senator representing the FCT, Sen. Phillip Aduda, senior officials of the FCT Administration, among others.