The government plans to finish the renovation by May 29, 2024, as reported by Saturday PUNCH.
Senior government officials working on the project told our correspondent that the renovation is necessary due to frequent floods and fast deterioration of critical components.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu proposed N4bn for renovating the official residence in Lagos and N3bn for refurbishing the Vice President’s official quarters.
On October 30, 2023, the Federal Executive Council approved the amount as part of a N2.18tn supplementary budget for the 2023 fiscal year.
The budget covers extra spending in defense, works, and welfare packages such as wage awards and conditional cash transfers, as agreed with the Organised Labour earlier that month.
Tinubu approved the bill on New Year’s Day of 2024, to run until March 31. However, on March 19, the Senate extended its implementation period to June 30.
A senior government official confirmed to our correspondent, under anonymity, that renovation works have started as approved by the budget, due to the poor state of the structure and flood threats.
He stated, “Last rainy season, a major part of the building was almost taken away by floods. So we have to protect it from erosion and floods.
The repairs will include fixing broken items, renewing the furniture, and transforming it into a functioning State House Liaison Office.
Dodan Barracks, in Ikoyi, Lagos, was Nigeria’s military headquarters and the seat of power from 1966 to 1991.
It gained prominence during Nigeria’s post-independence history, housing the office and residence of military heads of state and the Supreme Military headquarters during the Nigerian civil war (1967-1970).
Dodan Barracks also hosted the first state visit of a United States President, Jimmy Carter, to sub-Saharan Africa in 1978.
After General Ibrahim Babangida moved the seat of government to Abuja in December 1991, it became a Liaison Office in Lagos, catering to presidential liaison in the South-West geopolitical zone.
It also provides protocol and logistical support for government officials visiting or passing through Lagos.
In April 2022, then-State House Permanent Secretary, Tijjani Umar, revealed plans to rehabilitate the former seat of power.
After assessing its facilities, Umar stated, “The collection and preservation of archival materials for posterity would receive more attention.”
He mentioned that the rehabilitation would involve upgrading its library facilities, historical artefacts, and opening the building to researchers and academics.
The goal is to keep this place active, lively, and functional, and also improve the working conditions for the staff.
Umar had mentioned that we can't repair the whole structure in one day, but we can start somewhere and finish it.
Another unnamed official stated that the rehabilitation will be finished by May 29, 2024, and may be used by President Bola Tinubu in the future.
