The permanent secretariat of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) in Abuja would cost 50 million dollars (about N8 billion), Mr Reuben Okoya, Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), said.
Okoya, who gave the estimate in his presentation at the closing ceremony of the 7th?AFLPM summit in Abuja on Friday, said that the project would be completed within 18 months, subject to the availability of funds.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Setraco Nigeria Limited is handling the nine-storey building and funds for the project will be sourced through voluntary donations and levies from member-states of the AFLPM.
“The project is situated in the prime location of the Central Business District Area of Abuja and the project will be built on an 18,500-square metre plot of land, occupying a footprint of approximately 4,500 square metres.
“This translates to about 25 per cent of the total plot area and it is made up of nine floors that has basement, ground and seven other floors.’’
Okoya said that a parking space that could contain over 200 cars and a “generous landscaping’’ had been provided for the building in the design.
According to him, the building is also designed to be generating funds and be self-sustaining, as some halls and shops would be available for rent by the public.
“The building is also conceived to be eco-friendly and its sustainability is ensured by using highly insulating low-basement materials and low-energy consuming fittings and solar power,’’ he said.
Okoya stressed that the edifice would serve as a model for other public and administrative buildings in the country and the region.
“The building would be a sanctuary of all peacekeepers in Africa and in the world,’’ he added.
Earlier, Mrs Patience Jonathan, the First Lady and President of AFLPM assured the summit’s participants of judicious use of funds meant for the project.
She said that an account for the building project had been opened with Access Bank Plc. and acknowledged that the AFLPM had received voluntary contributions and donations for the project.
Jonathan cited Access Bank, Globacom Limited, Coscharis Motors, First Bank, UBA, P.W. Construction Company, Zeerock Construction Company, Chinese Construction Company, Sageto Engineering and Arab Contractors as some of the donors.
She, however, added that Coscharis Motors’ donated some cars which would be returned to the company after the summit. (NAN)