Yesterday, January 19, the Permanent Secretary in the State House, Jalal Arabi, said rodents and other pests can be found in Presidential Villa because of its location and availability of what he called “eatables”.
He spoke when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs.
Recall that last year, President Muhammadu Buhari upon his return from the UK where he had gone for medical checkup, relocated his office to his official residence.
His media aide, Garba Shehu, had explained that the officie was relocated because rodents had infested the president’s office and that work was being done to refurbish it.
Arabi who is the permanent secretary of the state house, gave an insight as to why the state house has rodents in it.
A member of the committee, Senator Joshua Lidani (PDP, Gombe) had said to him “On a lighter note, have you made provision for fumigation? Because there were reports that rodents invaded the president’s office last year.”
Responding, Arabi said: “You know Abuja is so blessed with so many eatables, attracting rodents and other animals. You know where the Villa is located, it’s on a valley. You can’t restrict their movement because of the international convention on animals,” he said.
