Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Aso Rock Presidential Villa is to gulp a whopping sum of N4.9 billion to ensure the effective maintenance of mechanical and electrical equipment for 2018, if it gets the nod of the National Assembly.
According to the proposed budget for the year, the amount which is higher than N4 billion voted for Agribusiness and market development, N1.2 billion for Polio eradication initiative and N3.5 billion for Counterpart funding including global fund, health, and GAVI is also higher than the N3.5 billion to be spent on the Zobe Water Supply project-Phase 1and2.
In a statement released by the Senior special Adviser to the Minister of Budget and National planning, Akpandem James, which gave explanation for the hike, said that due to the nature of the Aso Villa complex, the amount would go a long in ensuring that the activities of president was not disrupted due to power failure or any technical hitches.
According to him, “For the N4.9 billion for annual maintenance of mechanical/electrical equipment in the Villa, it must be noted that the Villa is quite an expansive complex comprising several offices, residences and other relevant support facilities.
“This provision is made to ensure that the equipment is maintained in top form, at all times, and for several of these there are standard maintenance contracts,” he said.