By Bisola Adeyemo
The Federal Executive Council, (FEC), on Wednesday approved N82 billion for the completion of some infrastructural projects, including roads in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),
Also approved the procurement of fertilizers worth N922.8 million for three states in the North-east recently affected by insurgency and flood disaster as well as N158 million for the purchase of four power transformers and one million metres for electricity consumers.
Briefing journalists at the State House, Abuja, after the cabinet meeting, the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello said the FEC approved over N82 billion for the completion of infrastructure projects within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
He said the approved contracts also include that rehabilitation of the Federal Secretariat, Abuja which has been in use since 1993.
He said: “I presented six memos and all have to do with infrastructure and infrastructure related projects. The first one is for the revision of the contracts for the rehabilitation and expansion of the outer Southern Express Way to Ring Road I in the Federal Capital city. That contract was approved at a varied contract amount of N15, 125, 122, 967.”
“It is expected that this contract would be completed within 24 months.
“The second project, which was also approved, is for the revised estimated cost of the contract for the construction of a 15-kilometre left hand service carriage way of the outer service of the outer Southern Express Way stage II. The augmentation of this particular project is in the sum of N11, 476, 476, 424, 350.
“The third memo is for the rehabilitation of phase I of the Federal Secretariat, which involves electro-mechanical systems, water systems as well as other general rehabilitation. This is a secretariat that was inaugurated in 1993, quite a long time ago so we are doing massive rehabilitation of that at a total sum of N8, 110, 665, 676.76 and the completion period is 24 months.”
The FCT Minister further disclosed that the other projects include those for the total overhaul of a 1500 KVA generating plant, for the Abuja Environmental Protection Board at the cost of N110 million, an upward review of contract sum for the extension of the inner Southern Express Way at the sum of N47.6 billion as well as the review of the consultancy provision for the Independence and Constitution Avenue in the Central Business District of Abuja, at the coat of N131.4 million.
On his part, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, explained that most of the FCT contracts were not new.
His words: “As a matter of fact, three or four of them are revised estimates, some of these projects that were brought today were started even before this administration, but there was a need for us to revise the contract either because new additions were added to it or due to paucity of funds it was abandoned and taken over. I want you to understand that they are not new contracts. The only new contract is the rehabilitation of the federal secretariat complex.”
Also speaking, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk, said council has approved the sum of N922.8 million for the purchase of fertilizer to assist states affected by insurgency and the 2018 flood disaster.
She named the benefiting states to include Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, which would receive liquid brands of NPK fertilizer, as assistance to farmers.
“Today at council, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, presented a memo for the approval of award of contract for purchase of NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer under the emergency agricultural intervention for states affected by conflicts, insurgency and also the 2018 flood disaster in the total sum of N922, 803, 393.26 and council approved the award of the contract.
“The benefitting states are Yobe, Adamawa and Borno. Initially we were supposed to give the NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer but now we are going to provide the liquid fertilizer to the benefiting States and the quantity is about 259, 000 litres of that particular product,” she said.
Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, also told reporters that FEC approved two memos presented by him.
He said one was for the procurement of four number of 150 NBA 331 3233 power transformers for TCN in favour of Messrs Gilbo Nigeria Ltd “and these transformers are needed to replace the transformers that have been in system for the past 35 years and so as to improve quality of power supply to the National Grid, so, this has been graciously approved by the Federal Executive Council.
“The second one is the approval for procurement for the production and delivery of one million sterilised metres grips embossed for three metre testing stations in Oshodi, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kaduna for the sum of N155,227,619.18”.
