NASS Complex Rehabilitation: Anxiety As Firm Fails To Meet Deadline
By Abdulateef Bamgbose
The initial apprehensions that greeted the proposed rehabilitation of the National Assembly Complex has been confirmed as the firm handling the N30 billion contract, “Visible Concept Construction” has kept the main entrance of the Complex under lock after it promised to complete the project in December 2022.
The Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, had in March 2022, due to the dilapidation of the National Assembly Complex, awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of the critical segments of the Complex.
The segments included the hallowed Chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the dome in the White House, the National Assembly Service Commission, NASC, the library, as well as the pilot gate at the cost of N30 billion.
AljazirahNigeria checks revealed that the Pilot Gate, the first segment scheduled for completion in December remains under lock due to the slow pace of the rehabilitation.
Earlier in November before the National Assembly embarked on its recess for the Christmas and New Year, the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, FCT’s on the spot assessment to the Complex had expressed fear at the slow pace of work. Senator Smart Adeyemi, who led the Committee, noted that the renovation works being carried out at the both Chambers were commendable, but said that the slow pace of the work was worrisome.
He said, “Except for miracles, the January 2023 deadline for the delivery of the transformed hallowed Chambers was no longer feasible. This project must not be abandoned in any way.
“The hallowed Chambers are expected to be completed by the end of January 2023, but the level of work seen here today is not pointing at that which to us is a threat to our legislative duties and functions. Non completion of this project at the designated times is even a threat to democracy itself because we don’t want the incoming government to inherit an abandoned one.
“For us in the National Assembly, we want the well transformed chambers to be handed over by April 2023”.
With the January deadline for the first segment already two weeks past and about two months to April, when this newspapers went on assessment of the project, there are indications that the lawmakers may continue to operate from the makeshift chambers in the National Assembly as there is no sign that the reformed hallowed Chambers will be completed and hand over soon.
Documents obtained by AljazirahNigeria Newspapers show that the project is expected to be delivered in phases between January and August 2023.
According to the documents, the contract was awarded for the rehabilitation of the National Assembly White House (comprising architectural, electrical and Mechanical works.
In a letter sent by the Bureau for public procurement to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, he was informed that Visible Construction Firm limited out of other Companies bid was selected for the Contract.
“Please find a certificate of no objection’ for the contract award in favour of Messrs Visible Construction limited with respect to the above project.
“The Bureau for public procurement, BPP, having examined your request and all the documents forwarded confirm that the project has satisfied all due process, requirements for issuance of Certificate of ‘ No Objection’ to proceed to seek the Federal Executive Council, FEC, approval for the award of the Contract “, the letter reads.
According to the documents, Visible Construction was awarded the contract despite the current economic reality based on lowest bidding. Visible Construction limited had proposed N45 billion for the project, but after the review the BPP reduced the amount by N2.6 billion and arrived at N42 billion ( N42, 414, 917, 272.).
AljazirahNigeria learnt that Visible Construction limited is one of the five Companies that applied for the contract.
Other bidders included Julius Berger which proposed N101.1billion, ITB Nigeria limited proposed N26.9 billion, Gilmor Eng. Limited proposed 61.2 billion and Rock Bridge Construction limited proposed N55.8 billion.
It was gathered that while other companies proposed different durations for the project ranging from 12 to 42 Months, Visible Construction limited said it will complete it in 85 weeks.
Although Visible Construction limited was not found on the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC’s website when this newspaper did a quick check, a five-member council set up by BPP to review the tender in its report confirms its registration.
Information obtained from the BPP report also stated that Visible Construction limited and Rock Bridge were the only companies that met the eligibility criteria in line with Section 16 (6) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and that Visible Construction Limited was awarded the contract because it had a lower bid price’ the document revealed.
When AljazirahNigeria Newspapers visited the project site at the National Assembly Complex on Tuesday, the project Engineer Tajudeen Olanipekun, told our correspondent that, “I have no authority to speak with the press; our communication is between the client and the Company ”. He declined further comments.
