Fed Secretariat: How project stalled in 6 states

The building of Federal Secretariat complexes in six states, which stalled for many years, is set to continue, following the approval of N700m by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for their completion. The states are Anambra, Bayelsa, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Gombe and Osun, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said on Wednesday after […]

The building of Federal Secretariat complexes in six states, which stalled for many years, is set to continue, following the approval of N700m by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for their completion.
The states are Anambra, Bayelsa, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Gombe and Osun, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said on Wednesday after the FEC meeting, saying the approved cost variation has already been captured in the 2016 budget.
The contract for the construction of the six new federal secretariats was awarded by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Zamfara State
Our reporter  reports that  construction work is ongoing  at the site of the Federal Secretariat in Gusau. Earth movers were sighted engaging in different construction activities.
The State Controller, Federal ministry of housing in Zamfara Architect Musa Sani Muhammad said even before the FEC approval,  works had commenced at the site.
He, however,  said he had no idea as to when  the project  would be completed.
Osun State
Our reporter who visited the site of the federal secretariat in Osogbo, discovered  that  the building has been taken over by weeds.
The  uncompleted two-storey building suffered abandonment after  the  contractor handling  it, M/S Golden Construction Company Limited vacated  the project site  due to poor funding by the  Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.
The proposed federal secretariat located opposite the campus of Osun State University along Ibokun road in Osogbo could not be accessed by our correspondent.
Herders took advantage of the green leaves in the vicinity to graze their cattle.
Nasarawa State
In Lafia, there was no sign of resumption of construction work at the site of the complex.
When our correspondent visited the site on Jos road in Lafia, he saw only security men.
A source said the contractor handling the project returned to site but stopped work 10 days ago due to  shortage of materials.
Gombe State
The contractor handling the project in Gombe assured  that the Federal Secretariat would be completed  by November.
The contract worth N2.285 billion was awarded to VIC-PHRANC Nigeria Limited, an indigenous company, under the then Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
The  federal secretariat is a three story building complex with 456 offices and 103 toilets meant for federal government agencies.
 Also, Air conditioners, ceiling fans, doors and other electrical appliances  had been  fixed.
Investigation by Daily Trust revealed that the contractor, has temporarily suspended the project in December 2014 due to paucity of fund. But in May 2016, the federal government approved the sum of N400 million and the contractor mobilized  back to the site.
In a phone interview, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VIC-PHRANC Nigeria Limited, Chief Francis Ogugua, said with the level of work done, he is confident that federal establishment in the state can relocate to the secretariat before the end of 2016.
Anambra State
The federal secretariat building in Awka suffered series of setbacks over paucity of funds,  Daily Trust investigation revealed.
Daily Trust investigations, however, revealed that work on the four story edifice, with about 70% completion, would soon experience a boost, following the approval of N700m by the federal government.
One of the site workers, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said that work had never been suspended on the project since inception, saying they had always been working amidst debts.
He however expressed optimism that the outstanding debts would be offset following the release of money by the federal government.
Bayelsa State
In Yenagoa, work on the federal secretariat complex stopped since February 2013. Construction works on the proposed four-storey secretariat complex stopped at foundation level.
Daily Trust reports that in May this year, Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts on the completion of the federal secretariat project.