Centenary celebration: FG assures on readiness

THE Federal Government yesterday boasted that it was prepared to put in place a very  successful Centenary  anniversary celebration.

The assurance by the government is coming barely a week to the kick off of the grand finale of Nigeria’s centenary celebration.

Disclosing this yesterday, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Organization of the Nigerian Centenary Grand Finale and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA,  Senator Bala Mohammed however expressed satisfaction with the level of readiness of the two key venues for the centenary celebration, the International Conference Centre and the Abuja National Stadium.

Meanwhile, the  Centenary City Ground Breaking Ceremony will take place on Saturday,  March 1 at the Centenary City off the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Road, Abuja, just as a  special Church service would hold on Sunday 2 March at the National Christian Centre would cap the centenary celebrations.

Before then, on  Friday, 28 February, there would be a Special Centenary Jumma’at Thanksgiving Prayer at the National Mosque, Abuja. The same day in the evening, there would be the Centenary Anniversary Presentations and Awards Dinner at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Senator Mohammed who spoke during an inspection of facilities at the two main venues of the activities lined up for the centenary grand finale, said, “From what I have seen so far, I can say so far, so good. We are on course. Concerning the National Stadium here, I can say it is over 85% ready; for the International Conference Centre, we can even hold the event there today.”

At the International Conference Centre during the inspection, workers of construction giants, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc were putting finishing touches on diverse facilities such as the African Hall, main auditorium, the executive halls, the restaurant, the conveniences and the business roundtable halls.

Also at  the National Stadium, the FCTA Minister  and his team inspected the  concert stage construction at the main bowl, the mini state box, the VIP section, the popular side and the clinic.

Senator Mohammed  was accompanied during the tour by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, Minister of Sports, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi and the Minister of State for Works, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda.

The Centenary Committee Chairman and his entourage were conducted round the International Conference by officials of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and Julius Berger.

At the National Stadium, they were shown round by the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi who is also a member of the Organizing Committee of the Centenary Grand Finale Committee and officials of Message Wise Nigeria Limited the company constructing the concert stage at the stadium.

Highlights of the major activities for centenary grand finale celebration include the International Conference on Human Security, Peace and Development – Agenda for the 21st Century Africa slated for Thursday 27 February, 2014 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja at 10 am.

- Vanguard

loading...