Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development inspected the remodeling of the Headquarters of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) assured that it would be completed in two weeks.
Farouq made this known to journalist after the inspection tour of the building on Thursday in Abuja.
The Minister explained that the project would since have been completed, but that the contractors were not mobilized on time, which led to their stopping work for a long time.
"However, so far so good, the work is nearing completion. From what the engineers told me, the work is about 92% completed. We hope that in two weeks, as the engineers assured, this place will be completed and we will be able to function very well.
" I am very impressed with the level of work. We started in 2019, but then the contractors were not mobilised and they stopped for some time before the coming of the present NEMA DG.
"I commend his zeal and diligence to ensure this work continues. We have given all necessary support to ensure we are where we are today.
"It is very important that NEMA has a befitting office where the staff will have a conducive atmosphere to discharge their primary responsibility of providing immediate response to emergences. The main purpose today is just to inspect the site," Farouq said.
Aslo speaking, the DG of NEMA, said that, though the contractors gave two weeks timeframe for the completion of the project, the agency will give them the benefit of doubt and four weeks to complete the project in order to continue performing optimally.
“This is a project that started in 2019. I came on board in 2021. Two of the buildings were done under my watch. There was no funds available. Contractors were only mobilized and the work was not going anywhere.
"There is need that the project that the administration started should also be commissioned by it. That is why there is need for her to assess what we have really done.
“This people have done a very good job. They have produced a world class emergency agency. We have a clinic and structures to accommodate everybody.
"The office we are presently renting, you can see that some people are presently in containers. Some people don’t even have desk. So, there was need for this renovation and by the end of the month, we will get back here.
“When we have a world agency in one place, we will definitely increase our productivity. All our departments are supposed to be in one place, but there are presently scattered.
"If you were looking for director search and rescue, it will take many minutes to get him. But now, it will just be one minute walk. But now, things will be done rapidly faster," he said.
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