VP’s Official Residence to Now Gulp N15bn, Says Wike

•FCTA set up task force on land swap initiative 

•Seeks Tinubu’s approval to make NIN requirement for C of O in FCT 

•Declares he has saved N110bn for FCTA

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike has disclosed that the official residence of the Vice President under construction would now cost N15 billion.

He revealed this yesterday, at the inspection of the project which was awarded in 2010 to Messrs Julius Berger.

Also yesterday, Wike disclosed he would seek the approval of President Bola Tinubu for the National Identification Number (NIN) to now be added to any Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) that would be issued by the FCT Administration for business purpose

However, Wike assured the construction company of immediate reimbursement for the work from the initial cost of N7.5 billion owing to the effect of inflation on the economy.

He assured that he had received the approval of the President that funds would be made available before December for the completion of the hitherto abandoned project before May 29, 2024.

“I have come to see the project and we have told the contractor that we will fund them very well before the end of the month so that they will finish it.

“What we are doing now is that we have submitted a supplementary budget for 2023, and Mr. President has approved to transmit it to the National Assembly.

“We are asking that we should be allowed to spend N61 billion before the end 2024, because we have the money, and we want to use that money for specific projects, so that by May 29th these projects are completed.

“I have discussed with the DG of the Sukuk Fund that as I speak to you, we have over N70 billion to N100 billion we are trying to access, and we are going to attach it to specific projects.

“For them, while I am interested in roads and bridges, we spoke to them that we have other projects like the Millennium Tower, that is going to change our entire landscape in terms of tourism and the rest of it, and they have agreed,” Wike said.

The Director of Public Building, Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA,  Adebowale Ademo, disclosed that the project boasts of three different living rooms on the ground floor, the vice president’s private room and conveniences in addition to provision for the vice president’s wife’s private lounge. He added that the building also has a chapel, a mosque, a dormitory for the security personnel and an entrance with the screening facility for guests that would be coming into the premises.

Meanwhile the FCT minister has set up a taskforce to examine the land swap initiative which started in 2012, but was faced with setbacks, due to several factors.

He said the initiative was reviewed because many stakeholders were raising a lot of concerns about it.

The taskforce is headed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Lands, Urban and Regional Planning, Michael Chinda. It is expected to deliver results within two months.

Meanwhile, Wike has disclosed that he would Tinubu’s approval for the NIN to now be added to C of O that would be issued by the FCT Administration for business purpose.

He stated this yesterday at a parley with estate developers in Abuja.

The minister also said the era where three or more persons were allocated the same plot of land with bogus C of O were over.

He also decried as unreasonable the monthly payment of N8.9 billion salary to FCTA, FCDA workers.

He also declared that all prospective applicants now wishing to obtain C of O in Abuja will now be expected to pay N5 million as processing fee for the title.

After intensive appeal by the developers, he conceded, saying the payment could be made within four months after which the C of O could be handed over to the applicant. 

He expressed displeasure at the alarming rate at which fake C of O were given by FCT Administration as well as the worrying role of bad eggs in the system.

Wike added that he had saved N110 billion for the FCT Administration in the last three months since he was appointed as minister.

He disclosed that when he was governor of Rivers State, his land title  in Abuja was revoked by the FCTA because he was in possession of a fake C of O issued by some unscrupulous officials of the FCTA and only realised the title was bogus after he had paid N57 million for the land.

“Allocation of lands to three same persons will no longer be allowed. C of O enables you to do business.

“When we take the right decision some people will be happy, some will not. We are ready for such a fight.

“I will seek the president’s permission to link any C of O to NIN number. The rich men will kick against it but anything that will help our people must be done.

“Support this moves. You will attest to the fact that there are changes. How will you feel that at the end of the day you have a C of O but it is fake? Over 10 years some people have not paid now and the five million naira look big for them.

“Do you known that FCTA workers’ salary is N8.9 billion monthly? I was shocked about this. The 2024 national budget of FCT is N17 billion.

“We are trying to provide a city that is to be proud of. We have considered that we will spread it by four months to pay the N5 million,” Wike said.

The minister also said he had now hired 28 senior advocates of Nigeria to handle legal cases in courts for FCTA, saying FCT lawyers would no longer defend the administration in courts.