PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY SENATOR ANYIM PIUS ANYIM.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
AT THE COMMISSIONING OF THE NEW HEAD OFFICE
OF JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC. ABUJA. AUGUST 17. 2001
It is my pleasure and honour to be invited here today to commission the Headquarters of Julius Berger Nigeria Pl Abuja, Nigeria’s finest city.
Indeed when I received the invitation what immediately struck my attention is the fact that Julius Berger stands undisputed as the pillar in the building of our New Capital City from inception and till date.
It is therefore not surprising that the company has built this ultra modern office as its Headquarters in Abuja. This magnificent edifice, you will agree with me is a testimony to the goodwill and interest Julius Berger has in the development of our great country.
It is moreso, a positive response to the current thinking of government that all multinational companies should site its Headquarters in Abuja. In my mind, this act by Julius Berger should sound as a clarion call to other companies to move their Headquarters to Abuja.
Julius Berger has become a household name in Nigeria. Its gigantic activities in the area of construction have touched many aspects of our lives in the country. A brief stock taking of such activities will speak loud. In her 36 years of operation in the country, the company has contributed immensely in the development of highways across the country, construction and development of social infrastructures like dams, water projects, sports complex, Abuja International Conference Centre, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport the Aso Villa and an imposing National Hospital of International standard in Abuja.
I must equally observe that the giant stride Julius Berger has taken in the construction industry in the country has been matched with the novelty of maintaining the various structures built by the company, In the area of tabour development, julius Berger contributed substantially in providing employment to Nigerians. In this regard, I do recall as I believe you do that at the inception of democratic government in the country, the Federal Government as it were intervened to save four thousand jobs for workers about to be retrenched by Julius Berger by paying the debt owed to the company by past military governments. While we sincerely do appreciate the contributions of the company in labour development.
I will seize the opportunity of this occasion to urge Julius Berger to also employ our citizens particularly our young engineers at management and top technical levels with the wider objective of transferring relevant technology to them. Uppermost in my mind is that efforts should be tailored to imbibing them with all the important aspects of maintenance culture which at present are at the poor stage of development in the country. I will also be like Oliver Twist in old English Classic and call on Julius Berger to blaze the trail as it has always done by responding to the Federal Government’s appeal for the private sector initiative and participation in providing urban housing for our teeming population. As you may be aware, the right to shelter is now being considered a human right issue worldwide. It is on this note that I call on all private sectors to joint hands with government in providing affordable houses to our populace.
Distinguished Seniors, Honourable Ministers,
Honorable Members, Chairman Julius Berger PIc,
Royal Fathers here present, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honour and privilege to declare this magnificent edifice, Headquarters Building of Julius Berger Plc open.
Thank you and God bless.