Again, NASS roofs leak under heavy rainfall
By Blessing Wika, Abuja
For the second time within a month, some parts of the National Assembly were flooded with water from heavy rainfall on Monday afternoon.
Areas majorly affected were the central lobby at the White House section of the complex, which adjoins the Senate and House of Representatives chambers, the Senate Press Centre and the frontage of the United Bank of Africa, UBA.
The last time several parts of the complex were flooded with water from the leaking roofs, was Tuesday, June 22 when senators resumed from a week recess.
Like the previous one, many members of staff, journalists and visitors watched as cleaners from the two companies engaged by the National Assembly, had hectic time in controlling and cleaning the water.
It would be recalled that the leadership of the parliament had in the 2020 budget proposed N37billiion for renovation of the complex, which generated public outcry, but at the end, the Presidency slashed the budget to N9.2billion.
The N37billiion proposal was done through the Federal Capital Development Agency, FCDA, which owns the complex, built about 27 years ago, but no significant renovation had been done around the building due to the outbreak of COVID-9 pandemic.
The authorities of the FCDA had in a press statement after the last leakage informed that the total rehabilitation and upgrading of the National Assembly complex was in the pipeline.
The statement signed by the Head, Public Relations and Information, FCDA, Richard A. Nduul, reads: “The attention of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA has been drawn to the recent flooding of the lobby of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja resulting from leakages from the roof. Our findings indicate that the leakages are traceable to blockages of drainages leading to seepage of water through expansion joints in the roof slab.
“Full waterproofing of the roof of the White House building is a major aspect of the proposed renovation of the National Assembly Complex.
“The management of the National Assembly approached the FCDA in 2019 for a total rehabilitation and upgrading of the NASS complex to bring it in tune with parliamentary buildings around the world.
“This contract is currently undergoing procurement process in line with the Procurement Act of 2007 and will therefore be awarded as soon as it is concluded in conformity with the requirements of the Act and also considering all other relevant parameters.
“The Authority, FCDA therefore assures that when the time comes, this project will be executed meticulously in order to ensure that the nation gets value for the funds that will be expended as this has been the tradition with every other assignment which the Authority has undertaken.”
