7 Billion Spent Yet VP's House Still Incomplete [Photo]

With N7 billion already spent, the vice president's
official home now seems abandoned, and subdued
by weeds.
The above photo is one of former President
Jonathan’s administration’s star projects. It was
meant to be a worthy edifice housing the Vice
President, but with N7 billion already spent, the
VP's official home now seems abandoned and
subdued by weeds.
According to report, following the refusal of the 7th
Senate to accept the inflation of the contract sum
by N9 billion, the Federal Capital Development
Authority (FCDA) abandoned the project.
It was learnt that despite the release of the
N7billion, the builders have not been fully paid,
and the project is yet to reach 80% completion,
contrary to the facts presented to the Senate by the
FCDA.
The contract was reportedly awarded in 2009 at N7
billion. But in 2012, a former Minister of the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Bala
Mohammed, came with a request for N9 billion
more to complete the project.
The Executive Secretary of FCDA, Adamu Ismail
later told the Senate Committee on FCT that the
proposed additional N9 billion was slashed to
about N6 billion by the Bureau for Public
Procurement (BPP). He said the variation was also
meant to provide furniture, fencing, two additional
protocol guest houses, a banquet hall and security
gadgets.
The then Senate Committee on FCT, led by Senator
Smart Adeyemi, however, rejected the request for
the variation, which was more than 100%. He said
either N13 billion or N14 billion or N16 billion for
the project was “indefensible”.
The abandoned residence which was expected to
accommodate a helipad, has been overtaken by
weeds as reptiles are moving freely at the site.
Although the weather-beaten red gate was under
lock at the weekend, it was learnt that no fresh
work had been done on the site since 2013.
A close source revealed to the Thenationonlineng
and said: “The construction of the VP’s residence
has been abandoned by the FCDA since the Senate
turned down the demand for variation.
Despite the Senate Committee’s position, the
former FCT Minister presented a memo to the
Federal Executive Council (FEC) but ex-President
Jonathan said the nation cannot afford 120 per
cent variation.
The former FEC resolved to complete the project
within available budget. This is why the project is
stalled. Definitely, we have a case of abandoned
contract at hand. The same abandonment is
applicable to the new residences of the President of
the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.”