Rats’ Invasion of Buhari’s Office: How FG Budgeted N4.9bn for Environmental Services in Aso Rock

The Senior Special Adviser to President Muhamamdu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed on Monday, that the President who just returned after over 100 days on medical vacation in London, will be working from his residence in Aso Rock because some renovations are ongoing in the president’s office.

Shehu went further and admitted that the renovation was as a result of various damages rodents had caused. “Rodents have caused a lot of damage to the furniture and the air conditioning units,” Shehu said.

A new investigative report by TheCable News, revealed that for 2017, a total of N4,953,184,635billion was appropriated for annual routine maintenance of mechanical/electrical installations, building/civil and environmental services within and around Aso-Rock villa facilities which include offices of the president and the vice-president.

There is another N139.4million for the maintenance of office buildings and residential quarters in the state house. Also, N52. 8million was appropriated for sewerage charges.

It was also learnt that in the 2017 appropriation, the state house is to spend N40.8million on rehabilitation of animal enclosures, procurement of vet lab equipment, feeding and medication of wild and domestic animals in the state house zoo.

If the rodents that took over the president’s office while he was away are those from the state house zoo, then those in charge of feeding them should be questioned on why the rodents had nothing to eat, finding their way to feasting on the furniture in the president’s office.

Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail Shehu’s remarks, and some Nigerians are surprised how rodents could find their way into the president’s office. “Did the cleaners/maintenance personnel attached to the office also go on the three-month leave with Buhari?,” a Facebook user, asked.