I am not an architect, an engineer or a quantity surveyor so I am not about to offer advice and costings for the construction of a new or renovation of the National Assembly complex in Abuja, Nigeria.
However, the news that the Federal Government has approved the sum of N37 billion to renovate the NASS complex has generated a lot of furore and even condemnation in some quarters. 37 Billion Naira! That’s a lot of money.
Information available says the National Assembly complex which is the home of Nigeria’s legislature comprising the Senate and House of Representatives was built in 1999 at a cost of nearly $35.18 million or N12.25 billion, on Naira to Dollar rate of 350 to one $. The contract was awarded to ITB Nigeria on February 18, 1996 through the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, Abuja.
Across the Atlantic, the United States whose system of government Nigeria has copied runs is own legislative business from the Capitol Building, where the Congress operates from. It was designed by Thomas Walter, known as the fourth Architect of the Capitol and constructed between 1855 and 1866 at a cost of $1,047,291 (equivalent to $14.5 million in 2018 or N5 billion).
Capitol Building is an architectural masterpiece which attracts tourists and visitors on a daily basis. Tickets are sold for these visits so the building is used to also raise funds to help in its operations.
A National Assembly member, in trying to justify the approval of 37 Billion Naira to renovate the complex on national TV, drew attention to the dome and how some leakages there need urgent attention.
The Capitol Building has its own dome too which is not stone, but rather cast iron, carefully painted to appear to be made of the same stone as the main Capitol Building.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan told journalists in Abuja that there has been no major renovation of the National Assembly building for 20 years and many parts of the property had become dilapidated.
SAID HE:
“We met the President and he responded and said he was going to renovate the complex. The phase one renovation will commence – the chambers and committee rooms in the white house. N37 billion was sourced and was given. It was put under the FCT, not national Assembly. All we require is to have the complex renovated.
“When we are through with phase 1, we will go to phase 2. It is not under the control of the National Assembly. The complex is a national asset and is for the FCDA to take care,” Lawan concluded.
As usual, the complainants and protesters will have their say but the authorities will have their way.
That is the way it has been.
That is the way it is.
And that is the way it will be.
IMAGE CREDIT: Wikipedia
Epa Ogie Eboigbe, veteran journalist, broadcaster and public affairs specialist writes on, and analyses current and historical issues with a ‘wise pen’.
You know, when I read stories like this, two things immediately come to my mind. The first is the advice a senior colleague gave me decades ago when we worked for Nigeria Airways Limited. He said, “if you ever go to a Library to read up on Nigeria, don’t go to the sections on government, politics, history or geography. Go to fiction!”
The second thing I think of is that for all my quarrel with fake news, many of the real happenings in Nigeria are actually harder to swallow or believe than the fake news people want to hang others for. I think we used to call such a scenario “stranger than fiction”!
I refuse to believe or accept that things will always be the way they are. Mark my word, one day, something will happen and there’ll be a radical change. For one thing, no situation remains the same forever. More importantly, there’s a God who rules in the affairs of men. Sometimes, in our view, He takes His time but we know He always shows up.