By Sarah NEGEDU
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, was furious when he discovered that the contract for the furnishing of the International Conference Centre, ICC, had been sublet to a different contractor rather than Julius Berger Construction Company, which is handling the renovation work at the ICC.
The issue came to light during an inspection of the ICC and the N16 road in Gishiri. The minister was informed that the furniture for the conference hall had been subcontracted to another firm by the Abuja Investments Company Limited, AICL.
Wike expressed his dissatisfaction with the arrangement saying, “You would see that we were at the International Conference Centre, the work is going as expected. The only problem which we identified this afternoon has to do with the furniture that will be in the conference hall. I was surprised to hear that there is a different contractor for that, which is unacceptable to us.
“The job was given to Julius Berger entirely. I cannot have different qualities. We cannot say that the floor up is furnished by Julius Berger and down is furnished by another company. It is not acceptable to me.
The Minister immediately summoned key officials from the project, including Julius Berger, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, and the Managing Director of AICL, to explain who authorized the subletting and on whose approval it was carried out.
“I have invited Julius Berger, I have invited the Executive Secretary of the FCDA and the MD of the Abuja Investments Company Limited to know who did that, and if anybody is found culpable, of course, I must have to apply the big stick.
“Nobody should be a sacred cow. Nobody can do something that you know is not in terms with what we have agreed,” he warned.
He further raised concerns over the financial aspects of the arrangement, questioning who would bear the costs for the furniture contract. “I approved and I know the amount of money. So when they say Abuja Investments is the one, who is going to pay for it? I am not going to accept that,” Wike stated.
Despite the issue with the furniture contract, Wike expressed overall satisfaction with the pace of the renovation work.
“The quality of work generally is very fine. I believe, by the grace of God, they are meeting up for the second anniversary of Mr. President,” he added, confident the work would be completed on schedule. However, he made it clear that any wrongdoing would be met with strict accountability. “Nobody will be a sacred cow,” he concluded.
