President Bola Tinubu on Friday commissioned the official residence of the Vice-President built at the cost of N21 billion, after 14 years of initial award.
Tinubu, represented by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, reaffirmed the unwavering dedication of his administration to the principles of accountability, transparency and efficient utilisation of resources for the betterment of the country.
He stated that a provision of suitable residence for the Vice-President was not merely a matter of convenience but a symbol of respect for the office and the individuals who occupies it.
Tinubu added that the completion of the project was a testimony to the respect and affection that the President has for the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
” President Bola Tinubu deserves special recommendations. We have seen how Vice President were treated in the past.
” The present dispensation deserves is a different ball game.”
The President said that the decision to complete the project after going through the require due process was highly commendable.
According to him, it is not secret that the project had faced numerous challenges over the years, including delayed and abandonment by the previous administration.
” However, rather than dwell on past shortcomings, we have chosen to seize this opportunity to demonstrate our resolved to confront obstacles head on.
” And to deliver on the promises made to the Nigerian people inline with our Renewed Hope Agenda which has the completion of inherited projects as one of it’s cardinal objectives.
” As we commission this state of the art edifice as the official residence of the Vice-President, we are fulfilling a long standing commitment and reaffirming our unwavering dedication to accountability, transparency and efficient utilisation of resources for the betterment of the our nation.
” I hold a very strong opinion that abandoning projects after substantial expenditures has been incurred is inherently wasteful.
” And it is in the best interest of the government and the public to see them through to completion.
Tinubu expressed gratitude to the FCT Administration for taken up the responsibility and feel duty boud to complete the project to avoid wastage of taxpayers money.
Earlier, the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, had said that the project was awarded in 2010 at the cost of N7 billion and was abandoned in 2015.
” It was in January this year (2024) that we had a reverse project to make it N21 billion, which is from N7 billion to additional N14 billion.
” For a Vice-President residence to take 14 good years and then Mr President has come within a year has made it a reality. And we are talking about hope. Look at the hope.
” When we came on board in August 2023, if you are here it is bush and we say look I went to President and said Mr President, how can we allow the Vice-President like that.
” Criminals have taken over the place and we are talking of fighting criminals and Mr President said go and make sure that the project is completed.
” I want my Vice-President to stay in a comfortable environment.” (NAN)