The Federal Government yesterday affirmed its commitment towards the United Nations Common House Building project in Abuja and assured that the project would be completed and handed over by February 2016.
The FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Obinna Chukwu, gave the assurance yesterday after laying of wreath in honour of the victims of the bomb attack on the building on August 26, 2011.
He told the UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban ki-Moon, who visited the UN building to lay a wreath in honour of the deceased bomb victims, as part of activities to mark his two-day visit to Nigeria, that the Federal Government would do everything possible to ensure that the entire renovation and reconstruction work is completed within the period of six months.
Chukwu challenged the project contractor, M/S Julius Berger Nigeria, to work round the clock even if it means running three shifts, to complete the work in order to put the sad event behind.
“The contractors already said they would need between five to eight months to get the job fixed but I have asked them to fast track their approach by working 24 hours to get it done within 5 months. “We cannot afford to delay here anymore, this project is very important, because Nigeria government is committed to its obligations,” the permanent secretary emphasised.
He assured that all grey areas concerning the project had been sorted out between the UN and FCT administration at meeting which had UN experts in attendance.
Speaking at the occasion, the representative of the contractor who also serves as the Division manager, M/S Julius Berger Nigeria, Mr Marco Braun, assured that with adequate funding, the firm would try its best to deliver.
This solemn wreath laying was part of the UN Secretary-General’s programme of activities lined up for his two-day official visit to Nigeria.
