FCTA approves N9.8bn for rehabilitation of Abuja airport’s presidential wing

The Executive Council of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has awarded the sum of N9.8bn to Julius Berger Plc for the rehabilitation of existing link roads and other facilities at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The Council gave the approval following the 9th Executive Council meeting held at the FCT Secretariat in Abuja on Friday.

The Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Shehu Ahmad, who briefed the press after the meeting, explained that the contract was awarded to Julius Berger for the sum of N9,874,326,036.10, with a completion deadline of six months.

He noted that the contractor had previously been responsible for managing the facility.

He added that the contract would cover the rehabilitation of the link road, the access road to the Presidential Kitchen, the hangar housing the presidential aircraft, and the holding centre for visiting presidents.

“The second memo presented by the FCDA concerns some rehabilitation work, specifically the construction of the existing link road from Bill Clinton Drive to the Presidential Wing. If you have travelled that road, you would know it is in a state of disrepair, and other facilities within the Presidential Wing have shown signs of distress and dilapidation, so they are to be rehabilitated. There is a presidential kitchen located within the Presidential Wing, but there is no access road from the main road to this area. We plan to provide that road and also rehabilitate the hangar housing the presidential aircraft.

“These are some of the facilities to be addressed, and additionally, there are runway lights on the side of the Presidential Wing, as well as a guest house – a holding centre for visiting presidents and other dignitaries,” he said.

The Secretary also announced that the Council approved the award of a contract for the construction of an access road to the new site of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Giri to Messrs Levant Construction Limited, at the cost of N7,825,379,618.57, with a completion period of nine months.

Among other memos and contracts considered and approved were the contract for the construction of access roads to Kugbo and Mabushi Bus/Taxi Terminals in the FCT, awarded to Messrs Planet Projects Limited for N7.22bn with a completion period of 12 weeks; and the design and construction of ten staff quarters for the Nigeria Law School in Bwari, Abuja, awarded to Messrs Austlinks Energy Services Limited, at a contract sum of N2.19bn, with a completion period of nine months.