Commission Begins N400m Upgrade Of Nasarawa Head Office, Sets 16-Week Deadline

North Central Development Commission (NCDC) has flagged off the remodelling of its headquarters in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, with a contract sum of over N400 million.

The managing director of the commission, Mr Cyril Tsenyil, disclosed the deal on Monday at the formal handover of the complex to the contractors.

He said the project would be executed within a 16-week timeline and would transform the facility into a befitting administrative headquarters.

Tsenyil said the decision to upgrade the complex was informed by the urgent need to create adequate office space for workers as the commission prepares for large-scale recruitment.

He said, “We have been on ground for barely one year. For us to hit the ground running, execute projects and recruit personnel, it became imperative to upgrade this facility. You cannot employ staff without providing where they will work.”

The managing director tasked the contractors to ensure timely delivery and strict compliance with approved standards and specifications.

He stressed that the commission would not compromise on quality, noting that the bill of quantities and architectural design for the project were explicit and must be followed to the letter.

Tsenyil also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the commission and providing funding for its take-off, as well as Governor Abdullahi Sule for donating and equipping the headquarters complex.

He noted that Governor Sule had earlier renovated and fully furnished the structure handed over to the commission last year, in addition to providing a liaison office in Abuja.

The NCDC boss disclosed that in the past one year, the commission had embarked on extensive consultations across Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, while also building partnerships with international and local development institutions.

He listed the partners to include the World Bank, United Nations, European Union, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

Tsenyil added that as part of efforts to chart a long-term development plan for the region, the commission would convene its maiden North Central Stakeholders Summit on September 14 and 15 for the validation of a 20-year development roadmap.

The Site Engineer handling the remodelling project Jim Jibril, assured that the work will be delivered within the stipulated time frame of 16 weeks.

He also promised that the company will ensure quality job according to the best practices.

He noted that equipment and manpower have already been moved to Nasarawa State for the job.