Minister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide

By Muhammad Bello

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) Wednesday approved the sum of N11.728 billion for the construction of a 13-storey office headquarters for the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), a new General Hospital at Gwarimpa in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A breakdown of the sum showed that N8.7 billion was voted for the construction of the CCB office, while N3.028 billion was for the construction of the new General Hospital.

Presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, the FEC, according to the Minister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, told State House correspondents, that the contract for the CCB building was reviewed upwards from its initial cost of N3.51 billion.

Akinjide said the CCB project was expected to be completed in 36 months, while the hospital was expected to be done within 86 weeks.

She further revealed that adequate provision had been made in the FCT Statutory budget for the execution of the hospital project which would be completed within 86 weeks.

According to her, the variation followed due process considering the revision of the first design to include car parks.

“This project is a 13 storey building comprising a four multi-level storey car park, two of which are subterranean and two are above ground, while nine-storey are for the actual building.

“This contract was originally awarded in 2010 but because of development control provision that any building in the central business district must have its own multi-level car park, the designed had to be revised to put in the parking provision so the contract is now revised from N3,509,000,000 to N8,767,000,000. The completion period of the project is 36 months,” Akinjide said.

She also explained that the 220-bed hospital project, which was still at phase one, would serve inhabitants of Gwarimpa Housing Estate and its environs.

“Today, Council approved a contract for construction of a two hundred and twenty bed General Hospital for Gwarimpa district which is phase one. As you know, the Gwarimpa district houses Gwarimpa estate, which is reputed to be the biggest estate in Africa at present there is no secondary tertiary healthcare facility to serve that district with its growing population.

“We have therefore, ear marked a plot, that is two hectares in the area in the district. This is strictly in accordance with Abuja master plan and the contract will be in two phases. The first phase which is the construction of facility that was awarded today include the construction of the main hospital block, fencing, accommodation for medical staff, a mortuary an incinerator,” she said.

On phase two of the project, Akinjide said, the actual equipping of the hospital would also be done.

President Jonathan also directed the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, to ensure that all federal roads as well as those affected by the recent flood were rehabilitated in order to allow for easy movement during the Christmas period. 

 
This, the Minister of Communication Technology,  Omobola Johnson, said had become necessary, “as we moved into the Christmas period, you know there is going to be lot of travelling, as people will all go back to celebrate Christmas and New Year.”

“Mr. President has directed that the Ministry of Works ensures that the key roads in the country are motorable and safe for all Nigerians to travel back home over the Christmas and the New Year period,” she said.

However, Onolememen told journalists that the ministry would do all possible to ensure that all federal roads are in good conditions works are especially those ones that were impacted upon by the recent flooding in the country.

“As a result of heavy rains witnessed in all parts of the country this year couple with the overflow of rivers Niger and Benue, our road infrastructure across the country was impacted negatively.

“Today, the Federal Executive Council approved that a special programme for the maintenance and rehabilitation of major arterial roads in this country be immediately carried out by the Federal Ministry of Works. Today’s approval by FEC would ensure that all impacted road infrastructure are given the due attention. So, in the next couple of weeks, we are going to be witnessing a massive roll-out on most sections of federal highway across the country consequent on this approval.

“I want to assure Nigerians that we would do all we can to ensure that the roads are made motorable again as to be able to guarantee safe and comfortable motoring to various parts of the country during the end of the year.”

On the successful completion of rehabilitation of the Third Mainland bridge in Lagos, the minister said: “Yesterday, we re-opened the bridge which was awarded for maintenance and specifically the repairs of the eight numbers defective joints by the FEC November last year.

“The work was scheduled to be completed by November 6, but however due to effective planning and monitoring of the construction works, we were able to achieve the feat about 10 days before the scheduled completion date.”