President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that providing a suitable residence for the Vice President symbolises respect for the office and the individual who occupies it.
The President stated this when he commissioned the residence on Friday as part of activities commemorating his first year in office.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu said the action was not merely a matter of convenience but a reflection of the present administration's commitment to providing leaders with the tools and resources they need to effectively discharge their duties and serve the Nigerian people with integrity and dedication
President Tinubu, who acknowledged that the VP's residence project had faced numerous challenges over the years, including delays and abandonment by previous administrations, said: “Rather than dwell on past shortcomings, we have chosen to seize this opportunity to demonstrate our resolve to confront obstacles head-on and deliver on the promises made to the Nigerian people in line with our Renewed Hope Agenda, which has the completion of inherited projects as one of its cardinal objectives.”
The President added that the construction of the Vice President's residence was not just about building a physical structure but about laying the foundation for a more efficient and effective government and about creating an environment where leaders can focus on the important work of governance without distraction or inconvenience.
The President stressed that the completion of the VP's residence project, which commenced in 2010, was in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda, which leans favourably towards the completion of uncompleted projects for the benefit of all Nigerians.
He said: “I hold a very strong opinion that abandoning projects after substantial expenditures have been incurred is inherently wasteful, and it is in the best interest of the government and the public to see them through to completion.
“I, therefore, want to express my gratitude to the FCT Administration, under the leadership of Chief (Barrister) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, for taking up the responsibility and feel duty-bound to complete the project to avoid the wastage of taxpayers' money.
“The decision to complete this project after going through the required due process is highly commendable. Your dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to excellence are a testament to the resilience and spirit of the Nigerian people.”
He therefore commended the FCT Minister, describing him as an achiever.
In his address, the FCT Minister commended the President for leadership while attributing the successes being celebrated to the support given to the FCT Administration by Mr. President.
Wike explained that the contract for the design and construction of the VP's residence was awarded in 2010 for the sum of N7 billion but abandoned in 2015 due to a lack of funds, adding that it took the present administration less than one year to complete and deliver the project.
He said: “Your Excellency, this project was awarded in 2010, 14 years ago. It was awarded at the cost of N7 billion in 2010 and abandoned in 2015. It was in January this year that we had a revised budget to make it N21 billion, which is an additional N14 billion.
“In a country, it took 14 good years to build the Vice President's house. And now Mr President has come and within one year he has made it a reality. When we talk about hope, this is the hope.
“Nigeria, the giant of Africa, awarded a contract for the house of the Number Two citizen to do his work 14 years ago at N7 billion. As a country, we could not afford N7 billion to complete the work in one year.”
