No Proposal To Build Any N250m Gatehouse -Osinbajo

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said on Sunday that no money was earmarked in the 2017 budget to build a N250 million gatehouse or any new official residence for the Vice President.

The acting president said in a statement by his media adviser, Laolu Akande, that the Buhari administration did not include the project in either the 2016 Appropriation Act or the 2017 proposed budget.

Osinbajo was refuting news reports that he budgeted N250 million for an iron gate to the proposed residence, which had been under construction since 2010, despite lingering economic crisis.

The reports quoted Kogi State senator, Dino Melaye, as saying penultimate Thursday that funds earmarked for the project will be probed by the Senate.

Senator Ben Bruce had also questioned the item, which he said was included in the budget estimate in 2017.

Bruce said the provision is outrageous.

But Akande clarified that the proposed plan of the Jonathan administration to build a new official residence for the occupant of the Office of the Vice President, including the controversial gatehouse preceded this administration.

“The project which started in 2010, was initiated and funded by the immediate past administration, but had never featured in the two budget proposals of the Buhari administration: neither in the 2016 nor the 2017 spending plans.

‘Any suggestion therefore that this project benefits our administration or that it reflects our spending style or preferences is not only misleading but blatantly false.

“Besides, the incumbent Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has said publicly that he considers Aguda House, which he currently occupies, a befitting official residence for the Vice President and sufficient for his needs.

“While the project is now about 85% complete, the Federal Government, in the circumstances, will decide at the appropriate time what is the best use for the 14 buildings already on the project site.”