News
Tinubu’s Inauguration: Aso Villa undergoes renovation
• President’s office, residence, Council Chamber wear new coats of paint
• Buhari’s successor to determine furniture as SGF panel handles renovation
Ahead of the swearing-in of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu on May 29, the State House Management has begun renovating and refurbishing sections of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Saturday PUNCH observed on Friday that the concrete perimeter fence encompassing the President’s office, official residence, the Council Chamber, press gallery, as well as other administrative offices were being overlaid with new white and green paints.
One of our correspondents observed on Thursday the delivery of new furniture to the green room adjoining the Council Chamber.
Months earlier, the management had carried out a routine upgrade of card readers and installed barricades in areas, which were once freeways.
A senior State House official, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said the maintenance was part of the tasks carried out by the Presidential Transition Council chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
On February 14, 2023, the Federal Government inaugurated the 22-member Presidential Transition Council ahead of the handover to the incoming government.
The committee comprises Cabinet Affairs, General Service Affairs, Economic and Political Affairs, Office of the SGF and State House permanent secretaries, as well as the National Security Adviser, among others.
In April, the President-elect nominated 14 more persons to join the transition council.
The official said, “The changes and upgrades we are doing are part of broader maintenance works. Some are routine, while others, like the painting, are done when the Villa is to host a new occupant.
“These follow the directives of the transition committee, which the SGF is in charge of. The card readers have since been changed. Those are just routine maintenance done when the old ones have passed their active life.
“Repainting is required because, over the years, the State House wildlife accommodates monkeys that roam free and stain these white walls. The bats we have here also deposit their droppings on the walls.”
Asked for the total amount earmarked for the works, the official said, “We don’t go outside the budget allocated to the State House, but the transition committee is shouldering any special cost.”
Since 2016, N3.05bn has been earmarked for “maintenance services” at the State House. These include maintenance of office furniture, office buildings and residential quarters, among others.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who took to his Twitter page on Friday, posted a photo where a man was seen painting the external wall of the Villa with white and green paints.
He noted that the painting was being done in order to welcome the incoming President.
Shehu wrote under the picture, “Painter at work. Villa wearing a new look for the incoming President.”
In June 2015, Buhari finally moved into the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, almost three weeks after his inauguration.
He could not move into his official residence immediately after inauguration because renovation works were still going on at the Villa.
Before moving into Aso Rock, Buhari had shuttled between the Defence House in Maitama and his personal residence in the Asokoro district.
In August 2017, Buhari, who resumed duties after a 103-day medical vacation abroad, operated from his official residence until the completion of the renovation of his office.
Shehu, had said the President’s office needed renovation because of its devastation by rodents during Buhari’s long period of absence, adding that rodents had caused a lot of damage to the furniture and air conditioning units.
His predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, had in May 2015 relocated to the Glass House in the sprawling Aso Presidential Villa to allow for its renovation prior to Buhari’s swearing in.
Shortly after the announcement of that year’s presidential election result, Jonathan and his wife, Patience, had moved their personal belongings out of the official residence to their Otuoke, Bayelsa State residence.
Just like his predecessors, Tinubu is expected to have input in the furniture that will be installed in his official residence and office as well as the paint colours, which will be done to his taste, but the minor repairs will be done on some parts of the house, while cleaning and repainting of the entire residence with white paint will be done.
In the 2023 Appropriation Act, a total of N148,168,464,339 was allocated for the Presidency. Out of this, N14,808,479,660 was allocated to the State House headquarters, a sum of N3,441,177,028 was budgeted for State House operation of the President, while N1,555, 447, 054 was allocated on the State House operations for the Vice-President.
A total of N10,108,606,550 was budgeted for projects in the State House headquarters from which a sum of N19, 382, 375 was allocated for the purchase of sporting equipment for the State House Sports Club, while N14, 773, 412 was budgeted for procurement of equipment for the central gymnasium renovation.
For the renovation works on eight blocks of 16 two-bedroom flats at the State House security quarters, N 132,303,624 was set aside, while N87,255,745 was budgeted for the provision of the Electronic Document Management System.
A sum of N150,000,000 was also set aside for the replacement of telecommunications infrastructure at the villa; N25,023,505 for the upgrade of the State House library, and N7,562,000 for digital medical references for the library.
Rehabilitation of animal enclosure/procurement of vet lab equipment took N35,251,776, while the sum of N130,076,825 was allocated for the conversion/upgrade of the villa ranch and construction of wildlife conservation capture.
A total of N16,077,800 was approved for the purchase of plant nursery equipment for the production of local flowers for routine floral arrangement, irrigation and upgrade of helipad grass field, and N35,725,000 for systemic collection and assessment of data about projects and programmes to aid the management to make decisions. But a sum of N1,904,388,461 was also budgeted for the phased replacement of vehicles and spares during the year.
On annual routine maintenance of mechanical/ electrical installations of the villa, a sum of N7,200,045,297 was budgeted to be spent, and N99,656,180 on the purchase of various office equipment for the admin, finance and accounts, works, ICT, procurement, PRS and audit departments.
A sum of N251,084,550 was also budgeted for the purchase of tyres for bulletproof vehicles, plain cars, CCU vehicles, platforms trucks, SUVs, ambulances and other utility and operational vehicles.
The Presidency had proposed N5.23bn for the general rehabilitation and repair of fixed assets in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in the 2022 Appropriation Bill.
A total of N5,176,045,297 was budgeted for the rehabilitation/repair of office buildings, while N55,056,446 was earmarked for residential buildings.
In the 2021 proposal, N4,854,381,299 was set aside for the annual routine maintenance of mechanical/electrical installations in the Villa.
The construction of the presidential wing in the State House Medical Centre was expected to gulp N21,974,763,310.
Following the creation of the Federal Capital Territory in 1976, the Akinola Aguda House (formally christened on October 1, 1983) was originally conceived as a presidential lodge and guesthouse complex – comprising a temporary official residence for the President as well as guesthouses for visiting Heads of State – during the presidency of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, according to information on the State House website.
In October 1982 the Aguda House hosted the first ever formal cabinet meeting held outside Lagos, only days after Abuja hosted Nigeria’s Independence anniversary celebration for the first time.
In 1985, the construction of a new presidential residence commenced and in 1991, the Aso Rock Presidential Villa was completed and former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida, became the first Head of State to occupy it, moving in on December 12, 1991.
Upon completion of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa the Aguda House became the Vice-Presidential Complex, and has remained so till date — apart from the period between 1999 and 2007 when the Vice-President lived in a residence that was later transferred to the judiciary as official quarters for the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
In 2010, construction of a new vice-presidential residence commenced. The residence has yet to be completed; the Buhari administration has said it is not a priority, and that Vice-President Osinbajo will continue to live in Aguda House.
Today, the Presidential Complex, located in the Three Arms Zone of the Federal Capital Territory, consists of the main presidential villa (office and residence of the President, and offices of the Vice-President and wife of the President), the State House Conference Centre, State House annexe, and the Akinola Aguda House.
Tinubu’s camp reacts
A source in the camp of the President-elect told one of our correspondents that it was the prerogative of Tinubu to decide how he wants the renovation.
He, however, could not confirm if Tinubu was already making input into the renovation.
The source stated, “That should be the duty of the permanent secretary in the State House. I have no knowledge if the renovation has started or if the President-elect is being carried along to ensure it meets his taste.
“But by and large, the new President will determine what he wants in place. They won’t change anything for him without his knowledge. That also depends on what he wants.”
PUNCH
More than 8,000 communities and 4,500 schools across 15 states are at risk of flooding between September 19 and 25, according to the latest National Flood Advisory issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
The agency warned that rising river levels could trigger flooding in vulnerable communities, exposing schools, healthcare facilities, markets, religious buildings and farmlands to possible inundation.
The warning was contained in the agency’s National Flood Advisory issued on Saturday by its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Arch Umar Mohammed.
The affected states include Imo, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Enugu, Bayelsa, Kogi, Abia, Taraba, Rivers and Lagos.
Mohammed said rising river levels were expected to trigger flooding in several communities, putting schools, healthcare facilities, markets, farms and religious buildings at risk.
He urged affected state governments to urgently relocate residents living in vulnerable communities to safer locations ahead of the forecast.
He said, “High riverine flood risk is forecast for the next seven days across Imo, Cross River and 13 other states.
Rising river stages are expected to cause flooding.
“Communities on the floodplain should prepare to move to higher ground. Stations include Obubra, Itigidi and Epento on the Cross River.”
In Imo State, NiHSA listed Aboh-Mbaise, Ahiazu-Mbaise, Ehime Mbano, Ezinihitte, Ideato North, Ihitte/Uboma and Ikeduru local government areas as being at risk.
The agency said 958 communities, 1,022 schools, 553 healthcare facilities, 161 markets and 198 religious buildings were exposed in the state.
In Cross River State, the affected LGAs are Abi, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Biase, Calabar, Calabar South, Ikom and Obubra.
NiHSA identified 2,471 communities, 703 schools, 344 healthcare facilities, 145 markets, 453 religious buildings and 854 hectares of farmland as exposed to the flood risk.
In Ebonyi State, Abakaliki, Afikpo, Afikpo South, Ebonyi, Ezza North and Ezza South LGAs were identified as vulnerable.
The agency said 2,574 communities, 1,064 schools, 422 healthcare facilities, 480 markets, 629 religious buildings and 1,882 hectares of farmland were exposed.
In Benue State, the affected LGAs are Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum, with 303 communities, 100 schools, 48 healthcare facilities, 32 markets, 151 religious buildings and 55 hectares of farmland exposed.
NiHSA also identified Aguata, Anambra East, Anambra West, Anaocha, Awka North, Awka South and Ayamelum local government areas in Anambra State as vulnerable.
It listed 1,314 communities, 1,308 schools, 1,089 healthcare facilities, 280 markets, 610 religious buildings and 1,529 hectares of farmland as exposed.
In Akwa Ibom State, Abak, Eket, Etinan, Ibeno, Ibesikpo Asutan, Ibiono Ibom, Ika and Ikono LGAs were listed among the affected areas.
The agency identified 249 communities, 323 schools, 211 healthcare facilities, 74 markets and 289 religious buildings as exposed in the state.
The agency advised residents in flood-prone areas, particularly communities located on floodplains, to take precautionary measures and move to higher ground where necessary.
The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement on Thursday unveiled a 59-member presidential campaign council comprising zonal and state coordinators as well as directors for mobilisation, women’s affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other key areas ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The council, as announced in a statement on Thursday, has the Director-General of the movement, John Ughulu, as Director-General of the campaign, while National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, is also listed among the campaign leadership.
The structure has representatives from the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory, with state coordinators appointed for the 36 states.
The council also includes directors responsible for grassroots mobilisation, women affairs, contact and engagement, special duties, procurement, information technology, legal affairs, strategy and planning, security and intelligence, and administration.
The development comes as the movement intensifies preparations to mobilise support for the joint presidential ticket of Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 election.
In a congratulatory message to the newly appointed council members, Sani explained that their selection was a call to duty and tasked them with taking the message of its principals to communities across the country.
She said, “Your selection is not merely an appointment; it is a call to duty, sacrifice, leadership and service to Nigeria. At this critical moment in our nation’s history, the responsibility before the presidential campaign council is enormous.
“You have been entrusted with the task of taking the vision, message and aspirations of our principals directly to the Nigerian people from the cities to the grassroots, from the states to the local governments, and from the wards to every community across the federation.
“Your appointment is an honour, but more importantly, it is a responsibility. The journey has begun. The assignment is clear. The mission is Nigeria.”
Continuing, she highlighted that the Obi and Kwankwaso campaign would not be built around individuals seeking personal recognition, but around what it described as a broader national vision.
“The OK Movement is not built around individuals seeking personal recognition. It is a movement driven by a larger national vision: to mobilise Nigerians around the possibility of a better, more prosperous, united and functional Nigeria.
“We therefore expect every member of the Presidential Campaign Council to approach this assignment with discipline, loyalty, humility, courage and an unwavering commitment to the collective vision of the movement.
“The road ahead will require hard work. It will require strategic thinking, grassroots mobilisation, effective communication and, above all, the ability to work together as one formidable political family,” she stated.
The national secretary added that their immediate responsibility was to ensure that the message of its principals reached voters nationwide.
She said, “Our responsibility is to ensure that the message of our principals reaches every Nigerian and that the voice of the people is heard across the length and breadth of our nation.”
Among those appointed are Suleiman Abubakar as North-Central coordinator; Hashimu Dungurawa (North-West); Amadu Gwambe (North-East); Dr Adebayo Adefolaseye (South-West); Christopher Ighodaro (South-South) and El-Shaddai Ikeh (South-East).
The council also appointed state coordinators for each of the 36 states and the FCT.
Others appointed include Rev Mike Agbon as Director, Inter-Ethnic Group in Northern Nigeria; Sabo Gashua (Grassroots Mobilisation); Glory Adayi (Women Affairs); Kabir Yahaya (Contact and Engagement); Abdumumini Tijjani (Mobilisation); Yusuf Mani (Special Duties); Peace Daful (Procurement); Prof Charles Nwekeaku (South Eastern Town Hall) and Sunmisola Adebayo (Information Technology).
Kingdom Okere was appointed Director of Legal Affairs; Abiodun Dabiri (Strategy and Planning); Richard Enemona CSP (retd.) (Security and Intelligence), while Aisha Abdulrahaman was named Director of Administration.
Last month, the group reaffirmed that it would retain its independent structure rather than merge with another political organisation ahead of the 2027 elections, while backing Ughulu as its founder and Director-General.
The unveiling comes days after the movement condemned the reported disruption of Obi’s convoy during his visit to Benue State and called for an impartial investigation into the incident.
The OK Movement said its security personnel deliberately exercised restraint to prevent the situation from escalating into violence.
Former governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Alhaji Murtala Ajaka, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, describing his death as a significant loss to his family and the people of Kogi State.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by his Head of Media & Public Communications, Prince Tijani Daud.
In a condolence message, Ajaka noted that the former governor occupied an important place in the political history of Kogi State, having served the state for nearly nine years between 2003 and 2012.
He said Alhaji Ibrahim Idris would be remembered for his years of public service and his role as an elder statesman who contributed to the political and developmental journey of the state.
“This is a painful loss, not only to his immediate family but to the people of Kogi State and everyone whose life he touched during his years of public service.
“His Excellency, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, served our state at the highest level and remained an important figure in the political history of Kogi State. His passing marks the end of a significant chapter in our state,” Ajaka said.
He extended his condolences to the immediate family of the deceased, the people of Omala Local Government Area, the Igala Kingdom and the entire people of Kogi State.
Ajaka prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the former governor’s shortcomings, accept his good deeds and grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus, while giving his family and loved ones the strength to bear the loss.
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