The Permanent Secretary, State House, Malam Umar Tijjani, has revealed that the proposed 14-bed Presidential Clinic, also known as Aso Rock Clinic billed to be constructed by the federal government would gulp ₦21 billion
Tijani told members of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs while presenting the 2022 budget for consideration, that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the construction and equipping of the clinic by Julius Berger Nigeria, JBN.
Açcording to him, the physical construction of the clinic would start on November 1, 2021, while the commissioning would be done on December 31, 2022.
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The Permanent Secretary explained on Thursday in Abuja that the clinic would contain 14-bed facilities on a total area of 2,700 square meters, adding that there would also be underground, first floor, two number operating theatre, two number Executive Suit, two VIP, two isolation and one number of six-bed isolation area in the building.
Tijani further disclosed that there would be a laboratory, healing garden, Pharmacy and X-ray facility in the clinic.
When completed, the permanent secretary informed the committee that the clinic would be opened to other Africa countries for medical treatments.
He said: ‘The project was conceived in 2012 by the previous administration and the brief was produced. It was estimated at about ₦21 billion and the facility contains 14-bed space within a total area of 2,700 square meters.’
‘There will be underground and first floor, two number operating theatre, two number executive suite, two VIP, two Isolation and one number of six-bed isolation area.’
‘Most of the preliminary works have been concluded. Mr. President has approved the project. We have gone to the Bureau of Public Procurement to get Certificate of No Objection.’
On the choice of contractor, Tijani told the committee that the construction company giant, Julius Berger Nigeria was picked “because they built the State House and have been maintaining it since 1990 and most importantly, it was considered for security reason.”
Some members of the committee, chaired by Senator Danjuma La’ah (PDP Kaduna South) commended the initiative of the federal government for the construction and equipping of the Presidential Clinic which will be delivered on December 31, 2022.
However, one of them, Senator Nicolas Tofowomo (PDP Ondo South) expressed dissatisfaction with the failure of the permanent secretary to show the committee pictorial views of the proposed clinic.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK