By OGIDI CHIDINMA FAVOUR
The construction of the official residence of the vice President lasted for approximately 14 years. The project commenced in 2010 and was wrapped up on the 7th of June, 2024. Bring to mind that, initially, the residence was granted ₦7 Billion in 2010 and later required an extra ₦15 Billion, which was consented to by the National Assembly in November 2023. This resulted in an aggregate of ₦21 Billion. However, the vice President has not moved into the residence.
The Federal Capital Development Authority(FCDA) has confirmed the completion of the residence’s construction. However, the residence has remained unoccupied since the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration handed it over to the presidency.
Allegedly, sources suggest that the basic reason for this delay relates to security reasons. Reports also, demonstrate that the location of the residence is not considered perfect for a high-ranking public official, raising questions about the safety of the vice President, Kashem Shettima, and his family.
A “daily Trust” reports a visit to the residence on the 31st of January,2025, which reveals that only a handful of plainclothes securities were found in the residence with little or no signs of activity.