Written By: Jacobs Dunga, Lagos
The Honourable Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike following a recent visit to the International Conference Centre has ordered the immediate closure of the facility.
The former Rivers State governor hinted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not at all happy with the present condition of the supposed international center.
He however ordered that the facility be closed with immediate effect with all bookings cancelled until the completion of renovations.
He has awarded the contract to the original contractor, Julius Berger, a firm he feels will cost less money and effect rapid work.
“When we came here for the ECOWAS inauguration sometime last week with President Bola Tinubu, no right-thinking human being would see the state of this facility and be happy. The minister started.
“In fact, during the inauguration, Mr Tinubu drew my attention to the rot. Even the lighting system was so poor.
“This is unacceptable. There is no way we can accept this as an international conference center.
“You cannot call it a conference center but not international, because there is no standard compared to any international conference center,” the minister said.
“We cannot continue to be embarrassed in this way. So, we are sorry to announce that, every booking meant to be used here is canceled. Because we will start immediate rehabilitation of this center, to meet up with international standards”.
He then announced that contacts had been effected with the original constructors to begin works immediately where he gave a period of eight months for the project to be completed.
“We have called the original contractor that built this edifice, that is Julius Berger, to come back, because if we had brought a new contractor, it would take us time. We believe that in the next seven to eight months, we will be able to do something that people will appreciate.
“And then that means the FCDA will now take over the rehabilitation with Julius Berger, and then hand over to Abuja Investment Company,” he added.
The minister hinted he could probe the previous contractors on their unprofessional and incompetent handling of the facility.
“I’m not here to probe anybody, I don’t want to begin to find excuses why the jobs are not doing well. The Managing Director of Abuja Investment Company knows what to do, mine is to give the country a befitting International Conference Centre.
“And if she does not do it well, we have no choice but to wield the big stick, but I believe she can run it well,” he said.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
