Nigerian President changes residence, aides move out belongings from Villa
By Bintu Jidda
Kanempress
13th May 2023
We won’t wait for security officials harassment before packing – President’s aide
Villa clinic relocated to N21bn presidential suite, Tinubu to decide new furniture
With 17 days left , President Muhammadu Buhari has moved out of his official residence inside the Aso Rock Presidential Villa to the Glass House, a temporary structure which has served as the abode of outgoing presidents since 1991.
The move is to allow for maintenance works on the residence in preparation for its next occupant, President-elect Bola Tinubu.
Most of President Buhari’s aides have also been moving their personal belongings out of the seat of power to create room for President -elect’s personal aides and key Presidency officials.
The 32-year-old edifice was being coated with white paint, while some of its sections were being cleaned and fumigated.
The renovation entails finishing and fittings, as the incoming President will determine whether to change the existing furniture or not.
“You know that most of the structure is white. So, the renovation will involve repainting of the stained sections and replacing fittings that have gone weak or bad. The furniture may not be changed. But that will depend on the new President,” a source said.
The Glass House had since been the new residence of the first family as it remains in use as the transition base for outgoing presidents and their spouses.
The State House Management had begun renovating and refurbishing sections of the Presidential Villa.
The concrete perimeter fence encompassing the President’s office, official residence, the Council Chamber, press gallery, as well as other administrative offices were being overlaid with new white and green paints.
Meanwhile, the Villa Clinic located at the administrative section of the State House has been relocated to the N21bn VIP wing of the State House Clinic, now a medical centre.
The evacuation of hospital beds, surgical suction machine, oxygen cylinders, mini theatre light stands, pedal bins, dressing bowls, file cabinets and blood collection tubes, among others.
The old equipment would be relocated to the old Aso Villa Clinic outside of the Villa as they would not be needed at the VIP section.
Construction giant, Julius Berger Plc, had begun work on the VIP Clinic edifice in November 2021 with a completion deadline of December 2022.
In March 2023, Buhari approved the re-designation of the State House Clinic as the State House Medical Centre.
The Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar, had disclosed after a pre-inauguration inspection of the new presidential VIP wing of the State House Medical Centre by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, accompanied by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; and Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba.
