The Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr Tijjani Umar, has led a team of presidential aides on a pre-handover inspection of the Presidential Wing of the State House Medical Centre.
Umar was accompanied by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Affairs, Mr Sarki Abba; and the Chief Personal Physician to the President, Dr Sanusi Rafindadi.
Speaking after the inspection, the permanent secretary said a lot of progress had been made with the unpacking and installation of equipment ongoing.
‘‘This has provided an opportunity to assess what has been achieved till date.
”This inspection also affords us an excellent opportunity to make observations to the contractors on what we have seen.
‘‘We are doing this so as to know what is on ground and to get ready for the official commissioning of the project when Mr President approves,’’ he said.
On his impression of the project, the chief physician to the President described it as ‘‘world class and state-of-the-art’’ facility with the capability to carry out several medical procedures.
Rafindadi expressed satisfaction with the level of work, commending the State House management team, led by Umar, for tirelessly working on the signature project.
Also speaking, Abba thanked the president for approving the project.
He also commended Julius Berger, the contractors, for delivering on schedule, less than a year after the foundation laying ceremony was performed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.
In his project description, the Director, Maintenance, State House, Mr Joshua Apagu, said the project, a Specialised/Intensive Care Centre dedicated for the exclusive use of the President, Vice President and other VIPs, is situated on one suspended floor and basement.
The facility contains Executive Suites, VIP Suites, Emergency Rooms, Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory, Operating Theatres and Conference Room for emergency meetings, among others.