Mr Nwachukwu Achebe, Federal Controller, Housing Sector in Bayelsa, said the on-going Federal Secretariat building in the state had attained over 75 per cent completion and would be inaugurated by June.
Achebe made the remark on Tuesday at the site during a media tour of the project in Yenagoa.
He said the secretariat model, consisting of 400 offices, nine committee rooms and one conference hall of over 250 capacities, was awarded in 2012.
“At the commencement of the project in 2012, we were faced with flooding and the foundation was redesigned; there were also pilling, sand-filling, among others.
“The cost of the contract is over N3.1 billion, including the variation such as pilling, sand filling and retailing walls as well as other additional works; so far, amount paid up till date is N2.4 billion.
“The delays experienced since the beginning include foundation redesign, pilling (496 Auger piles, bored and cast in site up to 18 metres) sand filling, retailing walls and 2012 flooding.
“Right now, the work is at the stage of internal painting, services fitting and external works; so, the overall completion is above 75 per cent and hopefully the project will be ready by end of June,” Achebe said.
Mr Sunday Omekwe, General Manager, Trenur Nigeria Limited, handling the project, said the workers were committed to handover at the expected period of completion.
Artisans at the site, however, commended the Federal Government for the opportunity provided for them to work and earn a better living.
Mr Chidi Onwe, a supplier of building materials such as cement, chippings and sand, lauded the Federal Government initiative in creating jobs through project execution.
Onwe, who had supplied the products for over five years, said he was doing no job before getting the contract.
He noted that his life had been changed since the beginning of the project and urged individuals and NGO’s to support government’s effort in fight against unemployment.
“The business has helped me and my family; I thank the Federal Government for creating this job and engaging other workers through the project,” he said.
A food vendor, who preferred anonymity, also expressed gratitude to the government for creating the opportunity for them to earn a living.