By ISMAILA CHAFE

The Federal Government has so far released N10.06 billion to speed up the construction of the Presidential (VIP) Wing of the State House Clinic, Aso Villa, Abuja.

The Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijanni Umar, made this known while giving an overview on the financial status of the project, scheduled to be completed by December.

Umar was addressing members of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, who were on oversight inspection of the ongoing project on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the N416.6 million budgeted for the project in 2020 and N1.06 billion in 2021, have already been paid in full.

The Permanent Secretary indicated that out of the N20.8billion budgeted for the project in 2022, the federal government had paid N8.5billion.

Umar recalled that in line with due process, President Muhammadu Buhari had granted approval to engage Messrs Julius Berger Plc to review and develop the concept design and proceed with the construction of the project as a turnkey contract.

“Accordingly, on July 29, 2021, the company was instructed to proceed with the review of the concept design and other site works simultaneously, based on which a roadmap/timeline for the construction of the facility was developed.

“In furtherance to this, the site was handed over to M/s JBN on 23rd August, 2021 which proceeded to undertake necessary and extensive site survey and other ancillary works paving the way for the ground breaking and foundation laying that was performed by the Chief of Staff to the President on Nov. 1, 2021.

“It is instructive to note that the schedule of payment plan which is linked with the work plan that was negotiated with the company in line with the advice of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning outlining milestones at which the client is expected to effect regular periodic payment for work done,” he said.

According to him, this is in order to sustain the momentum of work and to deliver/commission the project by Dec. 31, 2022.

He, however, noted that this was yet to be fully aligned.

In his remarks, The Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, Sen. Danjuma La’ah, expressed satisfaction at the progress of work on the Presidential (VIP) Wing of the State House Clinic.

He said: “For the remarkable steps so far reached on the project site, I am highly impressed,” he said.

The Senator, who described the progress of the work as fantastic, commended the contractors, Julius Berger Plc and the management of State House, led by the Permanent Secretary, for complying with the time schedule for the completion of the project.

“We will take it as a point of duty to keep a tab on this project until it is completed,” he added

La’ah recalled that when he assumed the leadership of the Committee, he had pledged that the Senate would ensure that the clinic is properly equipped to provide world class medical services to principal officers in the Presidential Villa.

The regional manager of Julius Berger Nigeria, Oliver Berger, who took the lawmakers through the milestones on the projects so far, assured them that the project which is situated on an area of 2800sqm would be completed on schedule.

The following members of the Senate Committee inspected the project: Senators Istifanus Gyang (PDP- Plateau North), Mpigi Barinada (PDP-Rivers South-East), Tofowomo Nicholas (PDP-Ondo South) and Nmachi Ama (PDP-Ebonyi South).

Others at the site of the ongoing project included; Gershon Basset (PDP-Cross River South), Bulus Amos (APC-Gombe South), Dimka Ayuba (APC-Plateau Central), Frank Ibezim (APC-Imo North) and Halliru Jika (APC-Bauchi Central). (NAN)

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