Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar has announced a USD 36 million project to rebuild 55 dilapidated council secretariat buildings in the Maldives, with construction set to begin in April 2025 under Malaysia's Hexter Global company. The initiative was prompted by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's island visits, where he observed severely inadequate facilities that were originally built as small residential units during former President Maumoon's administration. The project aims to construct two-storey buildings for 39 councils with minimal demolition required, targeting completion within two and a half years, while an additional 50 council secretariat buildings will be built through separate Public Sector Investment Programme projects.