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Aso Rock Bonanza: FG to Splash N2.2 billion on New Banquet Hall

By on November 29, 2012

 

The Federal Government plans to utilize N2.2 billion for the building of a banquet hall at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for hosting parties, receptions, and other social events.

The contract for the building of the banquet hall has already been approved and awarded to Julius Berger.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Muhammed confirmed that the project was granted by the Federal Executive Council during its meeting on Wednesday.

The project will soon commence irrespective of the fact that the Presidential Villa already has a hall where national events are held.

The banquet hall is designed to have a 150- capacity hall, walkways, security post, hall conveniences, technical room, and press briefing room.

Muhammed told State House correspondents that the council did so because smaller countries had befitting banquet halls in their seats of power.

He said, “The second project approved by council is the building of a 150-seater Banquet Hall in the Presidential Villa.

“We noticed that it (existing hall) is inconveniencing, it is not in tandem with what is outside the country. Even smaller countries have better Banquet Halls near their Presidential residences. Of course, part of the things we are going to provide there is a 150-seater (hall) with all the facilities that will cover the walk ways, security, hall conveniences, technical room and press briefing room that  are  more and more enhanced so that national broadcast can be done from there.

“The contract was awarded in the sum of N2.2billion to Julius Berger because they are more familiar with the terrain in the Presidential Villa and for security reasons.”

However, the approval of the contract for the hall was criticized by the Executive President, Coalition against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo Adediran, he described the development as “irresponsible and wicked.”

Adediran, who darned the government for not caring about the welfare of the people, said, “This goes a long way to demonstrate the weakness of our leaders. They only care for things that favour them, their relatives, and their caucus.

“This is unimaginable, it can never be done under a dedicated government. Of what use is the hall? Is it for them to deepen corruption or to legislate? Personal satisfaction must be suppressed for the country to grow.”

Another contract approved by FEC during the meeting, which was chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, is for the rehabilitation of some selected roads in Garki and Wuse Districts at the cost of   N2.78bn

He said the reconstruction work, which had been scheduled in phases, would focus on Herbert Macaulay Way, IBB Way, Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Sultan Abubakar Way, Michael Opara Way, and Ladi Kwali Street.

According to him, the FCT administration set aside N400m in its 2012 budget for the beginning of the task.

Briefing reporters on the upshot of the meeting, the Senior Adviser on Media to the President, Dr Reuben Abati, said the Council approved N148.9m for the conduct of Fiscal Allocation and Statutory Disbursement Audit for the 2007-2011 Oil and Gas Industry Audit.

He said, “The assignment given is to track extractive industry sector funds received into the Federation Account as were distributed and received by the federal, state and local government councils, with special emphasis on the application and utilisation of the funds on beneficiaries of the 13 per cent derivation and relevant federal institutions that directly receive allocations from the Federation Account.”