By Victoria Ojeme

ABUJA -Sequel to the bombing of the UN office in Abuja a few weeks ago, the organisation saidTuesday that it was seeking a common work place to accommodate its entire staff currently scattered in different locations in the Federal Capital Territory .

Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Ms Helen Clark, made this known in Abuja when she visited the site of the bomb blast that brought the organisation’s building down.

Clark, who expressed shock and sadness at the bombing that left many dead, also assured that the incidence, not withstanding, the organisation would not be deterred in its humanitarian mission in Nigeria.

She said: “I have been very shocked by what I have seen. It is a very terrible attack and very sad news indeed. The UN, of course, would re-evaluate the security needs that we have here.

“We also, in the short term, have to find some accommodation where our people can come to work together because some of the work places have been destroyed and the people have been scattered.

“We are working on a medium term solution and long term solution with respect to rebuilding for the UN. We want to be back here and we are committed to be in Nigeria and working in support of Nigeria and its people. We have to re evaluate security, so we must ensure that we do it safely.”

Speaking earlier, Minister of State for FCT, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide, assured the visiting UN envoy that the security of all agencies, embassies and high commissions, multilateral institutions in the FCT was top on the agenda of the FCT Administration.

She also informed the UN official that the Nigerian government had stepped up efforts to rebuild the UN House.

According to the minister, “ security now is the number one on the agenda at the national, state and local government levels, and we are working as a Federal Capital Territory that host all the agencies, embassies and high commissions, multilateral institutions and of Nigeria government and state governments to ensure that everybody is protected.

“It is something we are doing in partnership with the federal government and all the security agencies. You can be sure that security is not something that we are taking lightly. T

“his is something that has unfortunately happened in many different countries worldwide. Our work is to ensure it doesn’t occur again.

“ As for this building, it is up to experts to tell us whether the building has integrity and in any event we now need to look at a redesign to take account of security implications and you will be briefed as things progress once a decision is made as to what to do with the building.

“But all you need to know for now is that Nigerian government is committed to rebuilding and getting the UN back into their own facilities as quickly as possible.”