FCTA to begin emergency work on new livestock ministry

The FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, ordered immediate renovation and refurbishing of the abandoned Ministry of Agriculture building for the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development.

The minister, who inspected the abandoned building at the Central Business District, close to the Bank of Industry, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed the FCT Administration to refurbish the building for the newly created livestock ministry.

Wike, who told journalists that the project was an emergency one for the new ministry to take off, said integrity test had been conducted on the building.

He said the FCT Administration would soon invite bids from competent companies to carry out the renovation of the building.

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He said, “Well, it is the former Ministry of Agriculture, and we have a directive from Mr President to go and immediately refurbish the place and furnish it for the new Ministry of Livestock, and that is why we went there to see things for ourselves. 

“We will get some companies to come and look at it, and quote for it. It is an emergency work because the creation of the Ministry of Livestock is a welcome development, and you can see people are happy, waiting for it to start.

 “We are bringing some companies to look at it, and then we will take the best, or what do we call it, the most responsive builder that we know the government will afford to handle. But don’t be in a rush, what is important is that we have gone there to see for ourselves, and the job will soon start.”

It would be recalled that the Coalition of Pastoralists Associations in Nigeria (COPA) had raised the alarm regarding efforts by some legislators to disrupt the take-off of the ministry as approved by President Tinubu.

However, the Senate spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC Ekiti South), told Daily Trust that the allegation was false and satanic and should be ignored.

Also, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, when contacted, said the president had promised to create the Ministry of Livestock Development and would do it.