No proposal to build N250m gatehouse for Osinbajo - Akande

The Senior special assistant media, Laolu Akande has cleared the air on the raving issue of N250m gatehouse for Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. In a statement today, he said that there is no proposal in the 2017 budget to build a N250million gatehouse for the Vice President,.

We may recall that opposition senator, Ben Bruce had questioned the item, which he said was included in the budget estimate in 2017. Bruce said the provision is outrageous.

But Akande made it clear that the proposed plan of the Jonathan administration to build a new official residence for the occupant of the Office of the Vice President, including the controversial gatehouse preceded this administration.

“The project which started in 2010, was initiated and funded by the immediate past administration, but had never featured in the two budget proposals of the Buhari administration: neither in the 2016 nor the 2017 spending plans.

‘Any suggestion therefore that this project benefits our administration or that it reflects our spending style or preferences is not only misleading but blatantly false.

“Besides, the incumbent Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has said publicly that he considers Aguda House, which he currently occupies, a befitting official residence for the Vice President and sufficient for his needs.

“While the project is now about 85% complete, the Federal Government, in the circumstances, will decide at the appropriate time what is the best use for the 14 buildings already on the project site.”