PLANS to erect a befitting headquarters for construction industry operators in the country may have began in earnest, following development approval by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) authorities recently for the Federation of Construction Industrys (FOCI) new head office complex in Abuja.The proposed new head office building, which will be located within the Gudu District, was allocated to the contractors under the FCTs Accelerated Development Programme for the Central Business District, and will consist of six floors of commercial property with a basement for car parking.Incidentally, the approval is coming five years after the body initiated plans to call for tenders among its members. Then, the architectural model and design was finalised. The new project will dwarf the existing Construction House, FOCIs permanent Headquarters located at Adeyemo Alakija Street in the Professional Centre of Victoria Island. FOCI completed and moved into the massive Four Floors structure in 1984. FOCI occupies the top floor of the building while Citibank Nigeria, occupies the remaining three floors.FOCI Director-General, Tijani Adekanmbi who confirmed the development, told The Guardian that, original plan approved by FCTA Development Control is being adopted and that necessary documentation are been finalised, while payments for allocation, Land Use, tenement rates have been made with survey plan still being collated.Under the FCDAs accelerated development programme, the each property is scheduled to be complete within 18 months from the date of acceptance of the offer, while the lessee must also mobilise to site and commence construction of the structure within a period of six months.Estimate for the development, he added, will be made after consultants have finished work on the final designs while the process leading to the award will include competitive tendering with Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) being looked into while estimate time of completion will be two years from the date award is made.According Adekanmbi Plans have reached an advanced stage to appeal to our members for financial and material support towards the completion of this project.He also revealed that a building committee is being set up and that development will be funded from various sources including, accumulated investments of Board of Trustees, donation of cash and materials by member companies.FOCI completed and moved into the massive Four Floors structure in 1984 and currently occupy the top floor of The Construction House, at 18 Adeyemo Alakija Street, Victoria Island, Lagos but is looking to expand its base to a proposed new head office building, which will be located within the Gudu District.The body was incorporated in 1954, and presently has a total of 125 members comprising, 107 Full Members, 13 Associate Members and 5 Information Members, which include construction companied such as, OS Engineering Services Limited, Dantata & Sawoe Company Nigeria Limited, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Cappa & DAlberto Plc, R.C.C. Nigeria Limited, ARBICO Plc, Setraco Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Westminister Dredging &Marine Limited, P.W. Nigeria Limited, JKN Limited, CFAO Nigeria Plc (Structec), Glanvill enthoven & Co Nig Ltd, Salini Nigeria Limited B.Stabilini & company Limited and Costain W.A.Plc, among others.Meanwhile, the contractors have initiated another forum to showcase their expertise and equipment to the government and the public. The programme, expected to also attract investments into the industry, is to take place at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Abuja between 27 till 30 of next month.
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