The Federal Government has approved the sum of N2.2 billion for the construction of a new Presidential Banquet Hall in Abuja.
Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed who disclosed this after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, said the present hall was no longer befitting of the country’s status.
Mohammed said: “We notice that it is inconvenient, it is not in tandem with what is outside the country, even smaller countries have better Banquet Halls near the Presidential residence.”
He disclosed that the proposed 150-seater Banquet Hall has been awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria. The company had previously handled most of the projects in the Presidential Villa as well as other highly-graded government buildings.
Continuing, the minister said: “Part of the things we are going to provide there is 150-seater with all the facilities that will cover the work ways, security, Hall conveniences, technical room and press briefing room as destined from this one but that is more and more enhanced.”
He also said that N2. 78 billion has been approved for the resurfacing and corrective work of selected roads and bridges in Garki and Wuse 1 Districts.
Other areas pencilled to be reconstructed include Olusegun Obasanjo way, Sultan Abubakar way, Herbert Macaulay way, IBB way, Michael Opara way and Ladi Kwali street.
Mohammed added that the projects would generate about 750 employment opportunities.
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