Tinubu Inaugurates #21bn VP’s Official Residence

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated the official residence of the Nation’s Vice President, Kashim Shetttima.

Inaugurating the building in Abuja, President Tinubu reiterated his Administration’s commitment to concentrate on delivering on the promises made to Nigerians, rather than dwell on the failures of past Administrations.

Represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shetttima, President Tinubu pledged to always ensure that the nation’s resources are prudently utilized.

President Tinubu was of the opinion that abandoning projects after spending substantial amount of money, amounts to wasting tax payers money.

” As we commission this state of the art edifice, the official residence of the Vice President of Nigeria, we are fulfilling a long standing commitment and unwavering dedication to accountability, transparency and efficient utilization of resources for the betterment of our Nation”.

“I hold a very strong opinion that abandoning projects after substantial expenditure have been incured, is inherently wasteful, and it is in the best interest of Government and the Public to see them to completion.

“Rather than dwell on past short comings, 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, ” Tinubu said.

Tinubu also thanked the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike and the FCT Administration for making the completion of the VP’s official residence a reality within his one year in office.

Speaking in his own capacity, Vice President, Kashim Shettima who could not hide his joy noted that the completion of the project symbolizes the respect that Mr President has for the office of thr Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and his readiness to provide the needed tools in laying a solid foundation for efficient Governance.

” Office of the Vice President is the most derided, it is the most sensitive of positions, but we have to give it to Mr President (Tinubu) he treats me with absolute decorum, respect and inclusivity…We have seen how Vice Presidents were treated in the past, this present dispensation is a different ball game.” Shetttima said.

The Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike hinted that the VP’s official residence was awarded in 2010, fourteen years ago at the cost of #7bn, abandoned in 2015, but later reviewed by Tinubu’s administration in January 2024, and today it is completed with world class facilities.

According to Wike, environment drives productivity, hence the FCT Administration with the approval of Mr President committed required resources to complete the project.

“When we came on board 21st of August, if you were here, it was bush. And I went to Mr President and said , how can we allow the Vice President residence to get this bad. Look at, criminals have taken over the place , we are talking about fighting criminals and Mr President said, go and make sure that the project is completed,

“Mr President has come within a year, he made it a reality. May God continue to bless Bola Ahmed Tinubu for knowing that If you don’t stay in a good environment, you can’t put in your best,

“Environment affects productivity, the environment affects efficiency by the time you go in here and see what is provided, I am sure, Mr Vice President will be more encouraged to do more work than where he stays now, ” Wike said

The FCT Minister also used the medium to warn the company in charge of street lights at night, to wake up to their responsibility, noting that the FCTA will not tolerate seeingthe cityin gross darkness again.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary FCDA, Shehu Ahmad Hadi, who noted that the building was one of the projects that was abandoned, explained that the scope of work in the building involves 15 units of blocks, place of worship- mosque and chapel, standby power house, water treatment among others.

“The main building, a provision for an office for the second lady and the residence for the ADC and CSO, places of worship; a mosque and a chapel, as well as other domestic staff quarters. There are also utility facilities for standby power house, water treatment and of course, garages for car parking for public and the VIPs. There are also provision for recreational facilities”.

The Vice President official residence is the 8th FCT critical projects inaugurated by President Tinubu to mark his one year in office.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji