1st September, 2011
The Federal Government on Thursday said it will carry out an integrity test on the devastated United Nations Common Office in Abuja to ascertain the state of the entire structure.
This indication was given by the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed while inspecting the shattered complex.
The minister said that the test will assist the government take informed next line of action in its efforts to get the place back on track.
President Goodluck Jonathan had pledged the nation’s readiness to take up the responsibility of reconstructiing the devastated building following the suicide bombing incident last Friday.
The minister reiterated that a reputable company will be employed to conduct the integrity test to assess the extent of damage on the building and revealed that the FCT administration is already working out ways of getting alternative office accommodation for all the United Nations agencies occupying the common office to enable them continue with their humanitarian duties in the country.
Bala also visited the National Hospital where some of the victims of the bomb blast were still on admission and commiserated with them.
He encouraged them to have faith and see what happened to them as sacrifice for peace and common good of humanity and promised that the government will do everything to provide the best medical care to enable them recover speedily.
Bala later directed the FCT administration’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Onakomaiya Ademola, to specifically attend to the additional and personal needs of the victims particularly the cleaners and local security men who are not in the employment of the United Nations.
He revealed that the Federal Government has commenced the installation of close circuit television (CCTV) to cover the Federal Capital City and assured that government is on top of the security situation in Abuja and the entire country.
Bala further stated that henceforth the FCT administration will convene security meeting every fortnight to compare notes.
“We will be more proactive in intelligence gathering to nip any security challenge in the bud,†the minister added.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Daoudu Toure, who led the FCT Minister round the damaged UN Common Office revealed that 130 persons were victims of the blast with various degrees of injuries
Bala was accompanied on the visit by the FCT Chief of Staff, Alhaji Musa Umar Yashi, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Onakomaiya Ademola as well as other top government functionaries of the FCT administration.
—Nnamdi Felix / Abuja