The sum of N21.029 billion is needed to complete the rehabilitation of the National Assembly Complex.
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday when he took members of the Senate Committee on FCT on tour of some projects.
He said the National Assembly Phase II popularly known as “the White House” was realised from 1996 to 1999 by ITB Nigeria Ltd.
Mr Bello said no major rehabilitation works had been carried out on the building 23 years after.
He said the rehabilitation project which was awarded on Dec. 30, 2021 for 16 months has a contract sum of N30, 229, 290, 830.35 while the amount paid was N 9, 200, 000, 000.
“The commencement date is April 16 and is expected to be completed Aug. 15, 2023,” he said.
The minister listed other priority projects embarked upon by the administration to include rehabilitation of Federal Secretariat complex, construction of southern park way from Christian Center to ring road.
Others he said were the rehabilitation of the expansion of Outer Southern Expressway, provision of engineering infrastructure for Wuye District, rehabilitation and expansion of Outer Southern Expressway Villa Roundabout and completion of B6, B12 and Circle Road in the Central Area.
He explained that the ministry gave some projects in the city priority over others due to scarcity of funds.
“What we did was because of the scarcity of funds, we prioritised key infrastructure projects to get them completed.
“And in deciding the ones that fit into that category, we looked at the ones that will give the maximum benefit to the maximum number of people.
Also speaking, Chairman Senate Committee on FCT Sen. Tolu Odebiyi, who led the committee members said:”what we have seen is quite impressive.
“We believe that in the twilight of this administration, in the next month, it is important we catalogue all the projects that are being done and prioritise the ones that must be completed before the end of this term.
“This is so that we can also make sure we provide the adequate funding and budget for it,” the lawmaker said.