Why Shettima has not relocated to new Abuja residence one year after completion

Despite being completed nearly a year ago, Vice President Kashim Shettima has yet to relocate to his new official residence.

The residence, reportedly constructed at a cost of approximately N15 billion, was officially commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 7, 2024, and subsequently handed over to the Presidency by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration.

A visit to the premises on Friday, January 31, 2025, revealed that the area was largely inactive, with only a few plainclothes security personnel observed stationed around the property.

Sources familiar with the situation revealed that security concerns are a key factor behind the delay. Some insiders specifically cited the location of the residence, claiming it may not be ideal for a high-ranking public official such as the Vice President. This, they suggested, could be the reason for the VP’s reluctance to move in.

Efforts to obtain an official statement on the matter proved unsuccessful, as the Vice President’s spokesperson, Stanley Nkwocha, was unreachable for comment.

However, an official from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), the agency responsible for implementing the project under the FCT Administration, confirmed that all construction components under its purview had been completed.

“The project was handed over to the Presidency on the same day it was commissioned,” the official, who requested anonymity, disclosed.

(DAILY TRUST)