Ayo Jones
(with Agency reports)
The Presidential Villa, Abuja is undergoing extensive renovation in earnest preparation for the May 29 swearing-in of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
Reports claim that the President’s office, official residence, the Council Chamber, press gallery, as well as other administrative offices have been repainted while other sections will soon get a similar attention .
On February 14, 2023, the Federal Government inaugurated the 22-member Presidential Transition Council ahead of the handover to the incoming government. In April, the President-elect nominated 14 more persons to join the transition council.
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.
“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,’’ a source disclosed.
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.
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.
Just like his predecessors, President-elect 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 and preference.
*** Additional reports courtesy PUNCH Newspapers