By Ogaga Ariemu
Despite budgeting N9.25billion naira for National Assembly renovation in the 2020 revised budget, Tuesday morning rain in the nation’s capital Abuja disrupted activities at the Senate hallowed Chamber following the heavy leaking of the roof.
With the development, Senators who were already at the chamber were forced to come outside, discussing in groups.
According to a trending video seen by Nigerian NewsDirect Newspaper, National Assembly staff had hectic time packing the water with buckets and dustpans, just as the entire environment, fora was covered with water.
Senators who came later while the place was filled with water, had to go through the House of Representatives.
Nigerian NewsDirect gathered that last year, there was public outcry against the alleged allocation of N27 billion for the renovation of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja in the 2020 Budget.
However, Director General of the Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, later clarified that only N9.25 billion naira was provided for renovation/retrofitting of the National Assembly (NASS) complex in the revised budget as against N27 billion naira.
He further disclosed that “the initial provision of N37bn in the 2020 Appropriation Act for this was cut by 75 per cent due to the impact of COVID-19 on government revenues.”
In the meantime, the Senate has urged the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCDA) to expedite action on the renovation of the National Assembly complex to stop the leaking of the roof during rain season.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Services, Sen. Sani Musa said this when he spoke with our Correspondent on Tuesday in Abuja.
Musa was reacting to the general decay at the complex, especially leakages from the roof after downpour.
He urged the FCDA to commence renovation of the complex within the shortest possible time.
“The building needs to be worked on and if you recall, we proposed the renovation of the complex which the president graciously approved it is in the budget.
“And we have done the needful. Instead of the national assembly management to handle this project, this project was domiciled in the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCDA) because they are the owners of most of the public buildings in Abuja.
“We know that the complex was handed over to the national assembly management but yet we requested that the renovation should be undertaken by FCDA.
“The FCDA has done the needful; they have called for bids; they have done all the necessary things; they have gone to Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) and no Objection Certificate has been issued,” he said.
Musa added, “Surprisingly however, when it got to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), one of the ministers made a remark which made the president ask for the review of the whole process and today, you can see what is happening with the complex.
“It was flooded, everywhere is leaking. I will call on the FCDA, I will call on FEC to take a look at our submissions and do the needful.”
2021 investment summit: Ogun targets infrastructure, others
The Ogun State Government has revealed that the upcoming 2021 Investment Summit will focus on Infrastructure, Power, Transportation, Agriculture and Education among others, to maximise the vast economic potentials and broaden the state capital base.
Commissioner for Budget and Planning and the Chairman of the Technical Working Committee of the Summit, Mr. Olaoluwa Olabimtan made this known at the second Pre-Investment Roadshow, as part of the programme towards successful hosting of the Summit with the theme: ‘Ogun Becoming Africa’s Model for Industrial and Logistic Hub’ scheduled for July 13 and 14.
Olabimtan said the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration was committed to making Ogun the fastest growing economy in Nigeria, adding that the roadshow was a way of inviting and sensitising prospective investors, as well as members of the public on the expectations and opportunities the summit would offer.
“The key economic goals of this administration for the summit are based on increased investments in the real sector, job creation, food security, poverty eradication, in order to let the world know that it was time for action and full-scale business opportunities in the State.
“Other policy thrusts are housing, governance, agricultural and industrialisation policies, among others with a feasible Public Private Partnership arrangement to facilitate proper structure for businesses and engagement,” Olabimtan said.
Contributing, Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe, said the Summit would avail both local and foreign investors, the opportunity to interact and network, noting that government had designed six Economic Development Clusters in strategic areas in Abeokuta, Remo, Ijebu, Atan-Agbara-Ota, Magboro and Imeko-Afon/Ayetoro, to deliver large scale legacy infrastructure projects.
On Agriculture, Longe said the state has enormous land for primary agriculture and agro processing, urging investors to key into cassava and rice cultivation processing, agro forestry restoration reserves, poultry, diary and meat processing.
On his part, the Director-General, Office of the Public Private Partnership, Mr. Dapo Oduwole encouraged investors to see opportunities in establishing Independent Power and Gas transmission sites in strategic locations, saying huge opportunities abound in establishing new estates and cities, malls and shopping centres, as well as, recreational facilities.