Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Monday said he had nothing to do with the ongoing construction of a new permanent residence for Nigeria's Vice-President.

Sambo was reacting to controversies in the media over the building of the permanent residence of the vice-president in Abuja.

A statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Malam Umar Sani, in Abuja, stated that "the new residence under construction is not the personal property of Vice-President Namadi Sambo."

It noted that the Aguda House, the current temporary residence of the vice- president was designated in the Abuja Master Plan as Presidential Guest House.

The statement noted that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), which was saddled with the responsibility of providing accommodation for deserving government officials, took the decision of building a befitting accommodation to any Nigerian Vice-President.

"It should be known that the concept and choice of a residential accommodation was purely by the professionals in the FCTA and neither has he ever interfered with the budgetary requirements or cost associated with the construction.

"The public should note that in the Federal Capital Territory 2012 Appropriation, not a single kobo was included in the budget for the residence.

"It should, therefore, be carefully understood and appreciated that the vice- president has nothing to do with the construction of the new residence in question, as it is not his personal property but the residence of any Nigerian Vice-President," it said.

The statement further said that Sambo should, therefore, not be connected with the expenditure of the project.