The Federal Government has started renovating the former seat of power, Dodan Barracks, with plans to complete works by May 29, 2024, Saturday PUNCH has learned. Senior government officials involved in the project exclusively told our correspondent that the work became necessary as perennial floods threatened the facility and critical components were deteriorating fast.

This comes months after President Bola Tinubu proposed N4bn to renovate the official residence in Lagos and another N3bn to refurbish the Vice President’s official quarters in the state. On October 30, 2023, the Federal Executive Council approved the amount as part of a N2.18tn supplementary budget for the 2023 fiscal year.

The budget covers additional spending in defense, works, and welfare packages such as wage awards and conditional cash transfers, as agreed with the Organised Labour earlier that month. Tinubu assented to the bill on New Year’s Day of 2024, to run until March 31. However, on March 19, the Senate extended its implementation period to June 30.

A senior government official who spoke anonymously confirmed to our correspondent, “Yes, renovation works have begun as approved by the budget. The rehabilitation was necessary because of the sorry state of the structure.

“Last rainy season, a major part of the building was almost taken away by floods. So we have to protect it from erosion and floods. We will also repair broken items, renew the furniture and make it a functioning State House Liaison Office.”

Dodan Barracks, located in Ikoyi, Lagos, was Nigeria’s former military headquarters and the seat of power from 1966 until 1991, when the Babangida administration made Abuja Nigeria’s administrative capital.

Though its establishment dates back to the British colonial era when it served as a military installation, it rose to prominence in Nigeria’s post-independence history, housing the office and residence of military heads of state, including Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Muhammed, Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, as well as the Supreme Military headquarters during the Nigerian civil war (1967-1970).

Dodan Barracks also accommodated the first state visit of a United States President, Jimmy Carter, to sub-Saharan Africa from March 31 – April 3, 1978.

After General Ibrahim Babangida moved the seat of government to Abuja in December 1991, it became a Liaison Office in Lagos, catering to presidential liaison in the South-West geopolitical zone. It also provides protocol and logistical support services for top government functionaries visiting or passing through Lagos.

In April 2022, then-Permanent Secretary of the State House, Tijjani Umar, revealed plans to give the former seat of power a facelift by rehabilitating it.

After an on-the-spot assessment of the current state of its facilities, Umar said, “The collection and preservation of archival materials for posterity in the seat of government would receive more attention.”

He noted that the rehabilitation would entail upgrading its library facilities and historical artefacts and opening the edifice to researchers and academics.

“We want to keep this place active, alive and functional, as well as make the working environment more conducive for the staff. We cannot fix the entire structure in one day, but we can begin somewhere and see it to completion,” Umar had said.

Another official who did not want to be named said rehabilitation works will be completed by May 29, 2024. And may be used by President Bola Tinubu subsequently.

https://punchng.com/fg-begins-renovation-of-former-seat-of-govt-dodan-barracks/

Previous Thread:
"State House, Dodan Barracks To Be Revitalized – Presidency"
https://www.nairaland.com/7059615/state-house-dodan-barracks-revitalized#111596910

Nice one! A lots of facilities in this Barracks have terribly deteriorated. The place just looks unsightly. The only good thing is when one approach this place from the Ribadu gate end. Still remember how the presidential drive way from the Obalende end used to be sparkling clean back then in those old days.

Una wan move capital go back Lagos?

*Yawns

Didijiji:
Una wan move capital go back Lagos?

its not impossible with bulaba

Damnnn niggar

He sharp

You sure say tinubu nor get hidden motives so

Anyway make I nor dey complain again

Make I enter abuja go lobby for contract

Instead of me to dey keyboard and at the end client go still looseguard person

Misplace of priority! A nation that can not boast of good roads, transportation at zero level is busy building and renovating president residence with a bogus money. A nation where traveling on the road is like signing death warrants is busy lavishing nation money on one man,the president

They should reconstruct police barracks across the country too. Those barracks always look like pig houses. Let's be fair to our police.

Government cares less about the people. Budgeting billions for renovations that won't benefit the MASSES and so many youths including myself are without work. SMH

Seems the rumors are true? So indeed the Federal capital will be moved back to Lagos ?

Oh what a time to be alive!! The Northern cabal won't like this. 🤣🤣🤣

Dey play.you don't know anything..Nigeria will break.. That's the reason they are even renovating the place.

Armaggedon:
Dem go soon comot this fool with coup.

Long over due.
That place is currently an eyesore.

It's even worse when it rains. It competes with Agungi in Lekki, when it comes to flooding.

Tinubu is Trying to Soften the Heart of The Nigeria Army, What will be Will Always Be

Noted.

It's a monument

Renovating it to what end?


Is Tinubu moving back there or they want to change there to something more important like hospital?

OK the same dodan barrack built by tinubu in 1975 ?wow ,

Misplaced priorities...we are in nèd of funds to invest in agriculture and build more infrastructures that will improve our national life...we are borrowing more money from all over the world yet the funds are used for things that are not going to improve our economy such as paddy budget .....sharing much of the funds among the three thier of government...executive legislative and judiciary...with little left for development....now the old house of military president dodan barracks.. yet money is allocated to the ministry of defence..which should be able to take care of this stuffs....

"When I say BATists are people of very low intelligence suffering from mental impairment,I am accused of being too harsh. I guess they buy things very cheaply unlike PYO & his supporters.May we not have eediots as children like those who call themselves BATists"

Renovate industries and economy.

Why didn't you report the person that called Tinubu a fool, and even threatened a coup.

Hypocrisy. Mtwwww

CountinBlessins:


Seun mynd44 mukina2 obinoscopy nlfpmod Dominique fergie001

Rule 2

Nigeria problem is not money but how to spend it. Expect renovation to run in Billions of naira

Baba Tinubu wan Japa from Abuja back to Lagos.

What is the need to renovate it at a time when Nigerian is esperiencing hyper inflation.

Hmmmmmm....
Something big is cooking.......

Unnecessary... Jst hand it over to private investors

Ok