Not fewer than 800 Nigerlites were extensively engaged in one job or another in the conversion and reconstruction projects of the famous Shiroro Hotel to the IBB University Teaching Hospital.
The Project Manager of Think-Lab Groups handling the project, Engr. Usman Yahuza, who disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Newsline at the project site Thursday, explained that the engagement of Nigerlites in the projects started from the managerial cadres to technicians, labourers, food vendors, and other service providers.
He noted that the project director is an indigene of Niger State and is charged with the responsibility of maintaining the roles necessary to give the project the desired shape and focus in the areas of construction and reconstruction at the project site.
He said about 100 personnel were serving as administrative staff at both the site of the teaching hospital and the Three Arms Zone projects, adding that the company has also engaged another 500 labourers working at the Three Arms Zone who were being paid on a daily basis.
While noting that the engagement of Nigerlites in the project was part of their company's corporate social responsibilities in the state, the construction company, last week, gave out scholarships to over 1000 students that were strictly in government secondary schools in the state.
Engr Yahuza further explained that the scholarship was given only and strictly to about five students from each 350 government secondary schools across the State.
He said that the group of companies was solely concerned with and committed to building a society full of strong bonds wherever and whenever they were on site, anywhere in the country.
He said that when the company resumed work at the site, precisely on September 19, 2023, the hotel was virtually on farmland, pointing out that the company had gone into negotiations with the people, after which an agreement was reached and compensations were paid to those involved.
He pointed out that since the company embarked on work at the site, there has not been any form of misunderstanding between the working personnel.
Also, while assuring Nigerlites of peaceful coexistence, he noted that works were ongoing simultaneously, symbolically at both construction sites.
He further explained that the company has also completed the entire stone base road network and electrification works at the Three Arms zone, adding that about 20 percent out of the 70 percent of the housing units in the zone are currently habitable.