By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Minister Barr. Nysome Wike has announced that he would carry out an investigation to unravel why Julius Berger, the official contractor for the renovation of the International Conference Centre, ICC would sublet out the furnishing contract of the Centre to another company.
Wike gave this directive on Wednesday when he visited the ICC site under renovation.
The minister who frowned at the arrangement, called for an investigation to know the actual reason for subletting the furnishing deal of the contract by Julius Berger the official contractor to another company.
“I have invited Julius Berger, I have invited them for an investigation to known the actual reason why the Executive Secretary of the FCDA and the MD of the Abuja Investment Company Limited to know who did that, and if anybody is found culpable, of course, I must have to apply the big stick.”
The minister who spoke after inspection of the ICC and M6 road GISHIRI to NICON junction road, disclosed that he has summoned top management officials of the Federal Capital Territory and the Julius Berger Nigeria Company,to get to the root of the matter.
“You see that we were at the International Conference Center, the work is going as expected. The only problem which we identified this afternoon has to do with the furniture that will be in the conference hall.”
” I was surprised to hear that there is a different contractor for that, which is unacceptable to us.”
“The job was given to Julius Berger entirely. I cannot have different qualities. We cannot say that the floor up is furnished by Julius Berger and down is furnished by another company. It is not acceptable to me. “
The minister raised concerns about the quality of furnishing, and said that subletting the furniture of the Conference hall out to a different contractor while Julius Berger handles the gallery furniture, adding that he his not aware of such arrangements.
He reaffirmed that such subletting is not acceptable to him, wondering who would pay for the furniture contract.
The Minister while expressing hope for good quality of job at ICC, said after the investigation, he would whip big stick on any culprit.
However, the minister expressed satisfaction at the quality and pace of work.
“What I have said is that the quality of work generally is very fine. How they removed the furnishing of the conference hall from Julius Berger is what I do not know. And so that is why I summoned the Acting ES, FCDA, the GMD of Abuja Investment Company, and Julius Berger, to come and tell us who did that, and also on who’s approval because I approved and I know the amount of money.”
“So if they say Abuja Investment is the one, who is going to pay for it? So I am not going to accept that. And of course, you know, if anything shady went on, you will hear that I’ve applied the big stick. Nobody will be a sacred cow”, the minister warned.
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