FG to handover Abuja UN building in 6 months – Chukwu

The Federal Capital Territory permanent secretary, John Obinna Chukwu, has assured Ban Ki-Moon, UN secretary-general, of the commitment of the Federal Government to complete and handover the damaged United Nations Common Building in six months.

The permanent secretary gave the assurance after the laying of wreath in honour of the victims that died in the unfortunate bomb attack on the UN House on August 26, 2011.


Chukwu noted that the Federal Government would do everything possible to ensure that the entire renovation and reconstruction work was completed within the period of six months.

He thus challenged the contractor, M/S Julius Berger Nigeria, handling the job to work round the clock even if it running three shifts to complete the work in order to put that sad event behind us.

“The contractors already said they would need between five to eight months to get the job fixed, but I have asked them to fast track their approach by working 24 hours to get it done within five months,” he said.

According to him, “we cannot afford to delay here anymore, this project is very important, because Nigeria government is committed to its obligations.”

The permanent secretary reiterated that the FCT administration and the UN had sorted out all grey areas.

Speaking at the occasion, the representative of the contractor, who also serves as the division manager, M/S Julius Berger Nigeria, Marco Braun, assured that with adequate funding the firm would try its best to deliver.

This solemn wreath laying is part of the UN secretary-general’s programme of activities lined up for his two-day official visit to Nigeria.