Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has directed the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to hasten work on the United Nations House to ensure quick handover.
The UN House was bombed on 26th August, 2012 by Boko Haram terrorists after which the Nigerian government awarded contract for its rehabilitation on the 27th December, 2012. The project is said to have been 80 per cent completed as at today.
The minister gave the directive on Thursday for the quick completion of the rehabilitation of the House after paying an unscheduled visit to the House in the Central Business District, Abuja to ascertain the level of completion.
Muhammad Bello said that the completion would allow the UN Agencies presently staying at different locations in the Federal Capital City, Abuja to return to base, thereby making their operation more efficient.
He asked the authorities of the FCDA to work with the contractors, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and the UN Resident Co-ordinator in Nigeria to resolve all grey areas that would lead to the completion and early handover.
“It is all our duty to see that all the United Agencies staying around Abuja are back here. And I think it will send a strong signal to those that bombed this place. Whatever they do to us, we will continue to be strong.”
The minister thanked the UN for the support it has been giving to Nigeria which he said is being appreciated.
Taking the Minister round the site, the UN Resident Co-ordinator who is also UNICEF Country Representative, Jean Gough thanked the Minister for the special attention he has given to the rehabilitation works.
The minister also said that arrangement has been concluded to install modern traffic lights in 98 intersections of the Federal Capital City, Abuja.
speaking when he received in audience, the Zone 7 Commanding Officer of the Federal Road Safety
Commission (FRSC), Assistant Corps Marshal Kingsley Agomoh in his office on Thursday, the minister said that most of the old model traffic lights would be replaced by the modern ones to improve vehicular movement in the city centre and reduce waste of man-hour.
Muhammad Bello, said that the FCT Administration has already completed technical survey for the job, and that the Chinese authorities are donating the new traffic lights.
According to him, the installation work would commence within the next two or three months time across the Federal Capital City. [myad]
