Days to the May 29 swearing-in of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, the Muhammadu Buhari-led government has begun major renovation and refurbishing of sections of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
It was gathered that the concrete perimeter fence encompassing the President’s office, official residence, the Council Chamber, press gallery, and other administrative offices was being overlaid with new white and green paints.
According to The PUNCH, the delivery of new furniture to the green room adjoining the Council Chamber was made on Thursday.
The State House management, some months earlier, had carried out a routine upgrade of card readers and installed barricades in areas that were once freeways.
A senior State House official 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.
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.”
On the total amount set aside for the renovation, 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.
