Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has assured the Federal Government of the quality of work to be done on the renovation of the Phase 1 section of the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, saying it will be delivered to modern standards.
Managing Director of the company, Engr. Dr Lars Richter, who was represented at the flag-off of the rehabilitation works on the first phase of the secretariat by the Regional Manager for Abuja Operations, Engr. Oliver Berger said the secretariat was first built by Julius Berger three decades ago and has stood the test of time.
He said, “It might interest you to know that this building, the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase 1, for which we have been awarded a contract to rehabilitate, is one of our company’s proud legacies.”
According to a statement by the company’s Media Relations Manager, Barr. Moses Duku, made available to Daily Trust over the weekend, Richter said the Federal Secretariat Complex was built over three decades ago, recalling that “On January 22, 1990, Julius Berger was given the contract to build the Federal Secretariat, and we are proud to say that the building’s structure is still strong to this day, making it a point of reference for quality construction.”
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He said the renovation will bring the building back to its former glory while infusing it with “an impressive touch of modernity”.
He said the main work to be done is to fix the wet areas, which include tearing down and replacing all the plumbing components, tiles, partitioning walls, ceilings and all the pipes and cables for the mechanical and electrical systems.
“Other aspects of the rehabilitation works to be effected by Julius Berger include repairing the roof by replacing the old felting that has reached the end of its life span; installing a new booster station with pumps to serve the entire building, rehabilitation works on the lighting, aluminium vents, natural stone flooring, glass panels and painting.
“The building’s two lifts will be replaced with new ones, while the emergency staircases will be upgraded for an easier and safer exit. The 10th and 11th floors which were damaged by fire a while ago will now undergo renovations,” Richter added.
He, however, allayed fears of disruptions to the daily business of government in the secretariat, assuring that the company has come up with a plan to fix up this building without getting in the way of the civil servants who work there.
He said, “Along with doing our work in phases and weekends, one notable intervention is giving the client portable toilets to use while the wet areas are being fixed”.
He assured that the company would in conjunction with the users of the building ensure that all works are carried out successfully, while still providing comfort to the civil servants at work.
The Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, who flagged off the rehabilitation on Tuesday at the complex, described the exercise as a milestone in the efforts of the FCTA to rehabilitate public buildings and infrastructure in the Nation’s capital. He said that the secretariat complex, like many other public buildings in the FCT, was constructed 30 years ago and hence required rehabilitation.
