•‘Project to be delivered in December’ •Senate committee performs oversight function on project
The Federal Government has said it had released N10.06 billion for the ongoing construction of the Presidential VIP Wing of the State House Clinic within the premises of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.Announcing this while addressing the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, which was on site of the project for its oversight function, the Permanent Secretary in the State House, Tijanni Umar, assured that the project would be delivered by December 31, 2022.Giving an overview on the financial status of the project, the Permanent Secretary said the N416.6 million budgeted for the project in 2020 and N1.06 billion in 2021 had been paid in full.The total budget for the ultra-modern project, which will cater to the health needs of the President, the Vice President and other senior government officials, was put at N20.9 billion.Also, the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs has expressed appreciation at the progress of work on the project.Umar explained that out of the N20.8 billion budgeted for the project in 2022, the Federal Government had paid N8.5 billion.The permanent secretary recalled that in line with due process, President Muhammadu Buhari had granted approval to engage Messers Julius Berger Plc to review and develop the concept design and proceed with the construction of the project as a turnkey contract.
