ABUJA— One year after the bombing of United Nations office in the country, the Federal Government has committed N2.6 billion for the rebuilding of the UN House and also promised to refund $580,000 spent on treatment of victims.
Disclosing this at a memorial ceremony for the victims in Abuja yesterday, Senator Bala Mohammed, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, who said the UN House bombing was a wake-up call to make Abuja a safe and secure capital city, assured that the government had risen up to the occasion.
He said: “Federal Government provided N3.2 billion to rehabilitate the UN House, made up of N2.6 billion to start rebuilding and N600 million for temporary accommodation.”
The Minister said Federal Government considered it paramount in its duty and responsibility to reconstruct the UN building.
He assured the UN and the international community of a safe environment to carry on their businesses as special security arrangements had been made to secure the city.
Senator Mohammed also revealed that the Nigeria government was ready to refund the $580,000 medical cost of overseas treatment expended on non-UN staff, which was borne by the UN.
On his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Olugbenga Ashiru, reiterated Federal Government’s determination ‘to handle terrorism head-on.’
Ashiru said: “Terrorism is a crime against humanity. We stand as one with the UN and the international community to condemn the act.”
In his remarks, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative said: “Our spirit has not been dampened; our resolve is firmer in working with the government and people of Nigeria to deliver human development dividends to the people.”
He expressed the UN’s heartfelt gratitude to the people and government of Nigeria for the prompt response and action to save lives and find alternative accommodation for the 18 agencies of the UN that were internally displaced by the bombing.
He paid glowing tribute and expressed heartfelt thanks to the governors and people of Anambra, Gombe, Ekiti and Niger states, as well as the CBN Governor, who came quickly to the rescue by offering their Abuja offices as temporary offices to the UN for free.
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