History of Aso Rock Villa

It was built by the construction giant, Julius Berger – in just 13 months. The contract was awarded by the Military Government of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida with a mandate for JB to begin and complete the construction work, from foundation to finishing, without delay.

Money was not a problem; it was provided to in sufficient amount. Only the best of materials was to be used. There was no room for compromise or half measures. Everything was provided and, the best engineers and architects were deployed to site.

On the dot of 13 months, work was completed and the magnificent edifice was given the name ‘’Aso Rock Villa.’’ This is the official residence and workplace of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is Nigeria’s seat of power and serves the same purpose as the White House in America and the Jubilee House in Ghana.

The President lives and works in the Villa. The Vice President does not live in the Villa. He lives in a residence outside the Villa, known as Aguda House. It is named after The Honourable Justice Akinola Aguda. Aguda was the Chairman of the Committee for the location of a new federal capital territory for Nigeria. The committee was constituted by General Murtala Mohammed. Note however that the Vice President goes to work every day at the Villa.

President Ibrahim Babangida was the first Head of State to occupy the Villa when he moved in on December 12, 1991.
Unlike the American White House and other residences of presidents of various countries which are mostly open to the public, Aso Rock Villa is a highly restricted area, probably for security reasons.

Visits to the Villa are strictly on appointments and visitors are usually subjected to thorough security scrutiny before they can be allowed into the Villa. The Villa is described by some as the most highly protected presidential residence in Africa.

The Villa is big in size and sits on a sprawling expanse of land with room for future expansion. Every President whose tenure has ended, leaves the Villa for the next person. The Villa is guarded by an elite team of soldiers from the Nigerian Army known as ‘’Presidential Guards Brigade.’’ They guard the President and his guests and also perform ceremonial duties such as mounting of guards of honour to receive visiting Heads of State and newly designated ambassadors of countries that have embassies in Nigeria.

Since 1991 when the Villa was inaugurated, the following Presidents and Heads of State have lived therein: Ibrahim Babangida, Earnest Shonekan, Sani Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yaradua, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Aso Rock Villa remains a precious asset to the government and people of Nigeria.