The federal government has blocked journalists from covering the tour of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s official residence. According to reports, the edifice valued at N21 billion has been subject to criticism.
Eugenia Abu, the moderator of the inauguration ceremony stated on Friday that the Vice President’s official residence is a private space and coverage is not permitted. According to Abu, only selected guests, including serving national assembly members, federal executive council members, and top-ranking officials, will be allowed to accompany President Bola Tinubu on a guided tour of the residence.
Her words, “These are the persons that are going to be accompanying Mr. President into this residence. There will be no press; there will be no coverage. This is the official residence of His Excellency, the Vice President; it is a private space.”
“Those who are going to be given the privilege to come along with him are those who have been so carefully chosen. I’d like to advise that we have no press, no coverage, no media,” she added.
At the inauguration ceremony on Friday, Nyseom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), revealed that the federal government spent N21 billion on the renovation and completion of the Vice President’s residence. The project, awarded in 2010, was initially valued at N7 billion but was abandoned in 2015. A revised budget of N21 billion was approved in January this year, adding N14 billion to the initial cost.
