The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), on Thursday, handed over the ownership of Metro Plaza complex, Abuja, to National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to serve as its administrative headquarters.
The Managing Director of AMCON, Ahmed Kuru, handed over the property to the Executive Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammad, during a brief ceremony at the premises of the plaza in Abuja.
The complex is located at the Central Business District, Garki, Abuja.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had during its meeting in June this year, presided by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, approved the purchase of the plaza to serve as permanent headquarters of NAHCON.
Kuru, represented by Mr Benedict Daminabo, the Head of AMCON’s Subsidiaries and Advisory Department, said the formal hand over of the property to NAHCON signalled complete acquisition of the office complex by the commission.
Kuru said “from now henceforth, NAHCON would take full ownership and responsibility of maintaining metro plaza as its corporate headquarters.
“We have now transferred the burden of managing and maintaining this property, covering more than 250 square metres with many floors, car parks and annex buildings to NAHCON.
“Two weeks ago, NAHCON fully paid the total price of purchasing this property and we are now handing over its ownership to the commission.”
Responding, the NAHCON boss recalled that during his screening by the Senate in 2015, he promised to secure a befitting office complex to serve as corporate headquarters of the commission.
He, therefore, expressed gratitude to Allah, President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and members of the National Assembly for supporting him to fulfill the promise.
Muhammad, who said that the new office complex would transform hajj management and enhance the commission’s productivity, urged NAHCON staff to redouble their commitment toward achieving its mandate.
He said part of the office complex would be rented out with a view to boosting revenue profile of the commission in its drive to attain financial autonomy from Federal Government.
Rev. Tor Uja, the Executive Secretary, National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), commended the NAHCON boss “for demonstrating visionary leadership and management ability.”
He urged Christians and Muslims to always work and stand together to take Nigeria to greater heights.
Since its establishment in 2006, NAHCON had been operating from temporary rented apartment (Sokoto House) located in Central Business District in Abuja.