“Installation of elevators was not captured during the design of Jerome Udoji Secretariat to assist mainly people living with disabilities to have easy access to the offices,’’  Harry Uduh, head of service, noted in an interview.

According to him, the state government will seriously consider installation of elevators in subsequent building projects.

“The issue of functional elevators is a major construction issue.  It was a serious omission when the secretariat was being designed.

“But now, we now have another opportunity. It will begin to feature in all subsequent government building projects. It is very important that physically challenged persons be put into serious consideration.

“The governor is very sympathetic to the plight of the disabled. Of course, you know that he employed a number of persons living with disabilities,’’ Uduh said.

While describing ongoing refurbishment of the secretariat complex as timely, he said the project was part of decisions reached at a retreat held for the executive arm of government last year.

He added that the need arose from the near state of dilapidation of facilities at the secretariat, which required upgrade and substantial reconstruction work.

Jude Obikwelu, managing director of the contracting firm, O’Ben Developers Ltd., re-assured that the project would be completed in eight weeks.

Obikwelu noted that he had been fully mobilised to execute the project, which he noted would be done according to specification.