09 June 2013, Abuja – Dr Oluwole Oluleye, the Executive Secretary of Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), has pledged to fast-track the completion of its abandoned head office building in Abuja.
A statement issued by PTDF’s Head, Press and External Relations, Mr Kalu Otisi, on Friday quoted Oluleye as making the pledge when he visited the site of the project.
It will be recalled that the 12 -storey building project in Central Area, Abuja, which has reached 90 per cent completion, was abandoned in June 2012 due to funding constraints.
The statement, however, said the executive secretary had asked the contractors of the project, Julius Berger Nigeria Ltd, to resume work and hasten the completion.
“My priority now is to look at projects that are from about 80 per cent and above completion.
“We will put in money to get those completed as quickly as possible and then we start going down to those that are 70 per cent, 60 per cent and all that and take them up that way.
“Projects that have gone as much as 80 per cent completion should never be left fallow. They should be finished as quickly as possible and the facilities put to use,” Oluleye said.
He noted that the minister of Petroleum Resources was also interested in the speedy completion of the project.
“My primary intention is that we complete this building as quickly as possible.
“I want to assure you that I am doing everything to make sure that we have funding to realise this.
“I want to say that the honourable minister is very much interested in the completion as soon as possible which means that we will mobilise and do everything to get funding for the completion.
“I have never been involved with any abandoned project so I will ensure that we will get this done quickly,” Oluleye said.
The statement said the Project Manager from Julius Berger, Mr Martins Von Lom, promised that the building and all facilities would be completed as soon they were re-mobilised to site.
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