The
National Assembly complex of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is an
eye-catching architectural masterpiece that houses a bicameral
legislature established under section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution
consisting of a Senate and a 360-member House of Representatives. The
body, scissored after the federal Congress of the United States, is
designed to guarantee equal representation of the states irrespective of
size in the Senate and proportional representation of population in the
House.
The National Assembly complex is located in the three
arm zone of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. With its distinctive
features and dome shaped roof, it is one of the architectural landmarks
in the Nigeria capital city of Abuja. The symbolic complex was
constructed by I.T.B. Nigeria Limited, part of the construction division
of the Chagoury Group which was established in 1995. The construction
company which has a growing demand for specialist, civil engineering
services is one of the few civil engineering and construction firms
whose head office and main operations are in Africa.
The award of
contract for the construction of the parliamentary edifice was made on
February 18, 1996 by the Federal Capital Development Authority the prime
consultants under the auspices of the Federal government of Nigeria
with a contract sum of N7.0 billion. I.T.B Nigeria Limited was saddled
with the responsibility of designing and constructing two chambers of
the National Assembly Complex which comprises the House of
Representatives and Senate, a Library, Restaurant, Offices and
associated external works within a stipulated period of 30 months. The
complex came to live in 1998
The National assembly complex was
modeled after ‘The United States Capitol’, atop Capitol Hill at the
eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Capitol is the seat
of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S.
Federal Government, completed in the year 1800.
The National
assembly complex consists of 40,000 square metres gross floor area of
concrete structure for both the legislative and senatorial arm of the
National assembly. The two chambers of the complex is serviced by a
central atrium. The complex is composed of a large lobby with a dome at a
height of 50 metres,and the two chambers for the house of
representatives and Senators, accommodating 650 seats and 150 seats
respectively.
The extremely short construction period (30
months), made it necessary for ITB Nigeria limited to develop a
construction system to meet the project deadline. The structural element
was therefore a combination of insitu concrete and pre-cast elements.
The internal partitions are in plastered and painted concrete block
walls, with high quality profile aluminium glazed windows and doors. The
ceiling is finished with acoustic suspended ceiling type while the
floor is finished with a combination of vitrified tiles, marble tiles
and granite tiles.
The state-of-the-art mechanical and electrical
installation includes a central air-conditioning system, fire fighting
and fire detection system, access control systems and standby
generators.
The complex has been provided with a sophisticated
voting system, sound distribution system, building management system and
close circuit T.V. (CCTV). There are also meeting rooms, hearing rooms,
committee rooms, single offices for elected members, and a clinic,
library and printing room. The complex includes a 80,000 square metres
ceremonial plaza, which can accommodate more than 1000 people at any one
time.
The dome of the National assembly- an ancient
architectural adoption of developed countries has been a subject of
controversy towing along religious lines. Atop the dome is the nation’s
coat of arm.
A dome (from Latin: domus) is an architectural
element that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Even its
precise definition has been a matter of controversy. Domes have a wide
variety of forms and specialized terms to describe them. A dome can rest
upon a rotunda or drum as it is with the dome of the National assembly
complex. It can be supported by columns or piers, that transition to the
dome through squinches or pendentives. A lantern may cover an oculus
and may itself have another dome.
Domes have a long architectural
lineage that extends back into prehistory and they have been
constructed from mud, stone, wood, brick, concrete, metal, glass, and
plastic over the centuries. The symbolism associated with domes includes
mortuary, celestial, and governmental traditions that have likewise
developed over time.
However, the dome of the National Assembly
building complex has raised eye brows over the years as to its symbol.
Some argue that it has Islamic affiliations though what seats atop the
dome is the country’s coat of arm. That brings me to this question; Is
the dome really a symbol of Islam? That’s a topic for another day.
Senator
Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara were yesterday elected as senate
president and speaker of the upper and lower house of the country’s
bicameral National assembly respectively.
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