The delay in approving the building design by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) is stalling the commencement of work on the new headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), worth $31.6m, in Abuja.

The ECOWAS Commission, on March 14, 2018, signed a memorandum of understanding for a $31.6 million grant with the government of China in view of the proposed ECOWAS headquarters building project.

However, work on the project being constructed by the Chinese government for free is yet to commence. The project is to be completed within 24 months, which will elapse in 2024.

During a visit to the site by the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Cui Jian Chun, leaders of the ECOWAS Commission and officials of the Federal Government of Nigeria at the weekend, the chairman of SCEGC, the Chinese company in charge of the project, Yan Yongjun, said temporary infrastructures had been provided for site workers already.

While saying the building design was also ready, Yongjun lamented that the FCDA was yet to grant approval for the construction work to begin.

He called on government officials to fast-track the process of approval for the company to meet the deadline to deliver the project.

Nigeria’s permanent representative to ECOWAS, Musa Nuhu, said the regional body was trying to get a waiver, which delayed the approval of the building design, adding, however, that all issues had been trashed out for the project to commence.

He said he spoke with FCDA officials as at Friday and they had given assurance that the approval would be ready in the next two days.

He called for more coordination among the bodies involved in the project in order to address issues immediately as they emerged. (Daily Trust)

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