I did not influence N16b house for myself – Sambo

The Vice President, Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo, has said he did not influence the cost of putting up a new residence for the country’s vice presidents.
Rather, Sambo said the proposal to construct a N16 billion house for the vice president was solely the decision of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, which is in charge of providing accommodation for certain levels of government officials in the FCT.
Sambo, in a statement by his media aide, Umar Sani, on Monday, said the the house he currently occupies was meant to be a presidential guest house in the original master plan for the Federal Capital Territory.
The statement by Sani reads: “Our attention has been drawn to unnecessary controversies the building of the permanent residence of the Vice-President is generating in the Media. Having taken stock of issues raised overtime, we find it necessary to clarify and lay them to rest.
“Aguda House, the current temporary Residence of the Vice President was designated in the Abuja Master plan as a Presidential Guest House and the Federal Capital Territory Administration which is saddled with the responsibility of providing accommodation to deserving government officials, decided to ensure that it implements its master plan by locating the permanent residence of the Vice President to its present position and building a befitting accommodation to any Nigerian Vice President.
“It should be known that the concept and choice of a residential accommodation was purely by the professionals in the FCT administration and neither has he ever interfered with the budgetary requirements or cost associated with the constructions.
“It should interest members of the public to note that in the FCT 2012 appropriation, not a single Kobo was included in the budget for the residence.
“It should therefore be carefully understood and appreciated that the Vice President has nothing to do with the construction of the new residence in question, as it is not his personal property but the residence of any Nigerian Vice President.
“He should therefore not be connected with the expenditure of the construction.”