Federal government on Wednesday approved the construction of 55 kilometers Zaima-Zuru-Gamji road at N10.589 billion.
This is just as the Federal Executive Council FEC also contracts for the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to strengthen federal government Virtual meetings
These were part of the outcome of the 14th virtual FEC meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola disclosed that FEC approved the ratification of the emergency works undertaken on seven kilometers Zaima-Zuru-Gamji road at the cost of N1. 145billion, while also approving the award by the same contractor to cover the balance of 55 kilometers which was approved also at N10.589billion.
“So, just by way of emphasis, we did an emergency 7 kilometers out of 62 kilometers. Because it was an emergency we need to come for ratification which was given and we now got approval to award the remaining 55 kilometers so that we can complete the road which was also given.
Minister of Digital Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, said FEC approved contracts for Galaxy Backbone Limited to upgrade facilities for virtual meetings
“We have seen how COVID -19 pandemic brought about the need to be conducting activities virtually. We have been pushed by necessities to virtual activities, because of these that Galaxy backbone limited has deployed ICT infrastructure in federal public institutions like State House.”
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BusinessDay check reveals that the State House currently has about 1500 land and local area network points, federal secretariat phase 1, 2750 land points, federal secretariat phase 2, 4896, while the office of the Secretary to the government of the federation SGF office has 1176 local areas and network
Others include the Mabushi office of the Ministry of Works and Housing, with about 800 local area network points.
Pantami however said most of the facilities being used were deployed in 2010, 2011, and 2012.
“The most recent facilities in most of the places were the ones deployed 8 years ago and the validity of these facilities is usually 5 years maximum. Now we have some that are up to 11,12 years.
“There is a need for these facilities to be upgraded why because we are going virtual almost every day and only Almighty God knows when this COVID -19 pandemic will leave us, however, we are optimistic and prayerful as well, it is because of these Mr President has directed that we should conduct an audit assessment of all the federal public institutions and the need to upgrade their facilities
“We have done that and the report has been presented before the council being chaired by our boss Mr President and secondly after that Galaxy backbone has been established to be providing digital services to all public institutions.
“The federal government has redirected that all federal public institutions should always contact galaxy as their first point of call whenever they have any IT project to be executed there, so most importantly our presentation here is about upgrading our ICT infrastructure and secondly directing institutions to patronize Galaxy and thirdly to show to us the commitment of the federal government towards the promotion of our government digital services.”
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, also announced that FEC approved the purchase of a 156 room structure on the Airport Road, Abuja, as the permanent headquarters of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He, however, did not disclose the contract amount and the contractors
Malami said the Council approved the award of contract for the purchase of a property properly-known and described as Plot No. 1123-1129 Cadastral Zone 0607 at Aviation Village, Airport Road, Abuja – a property which consists of 156 rooms in a three-wing two-story building at Aviation Village, Airport Road, Abuja.
The property is located near the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) building close to the Airforce Base along Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Road, Abuja.
According to him, “necessity for the acquisition of the property is informed by the fact that ever since NDLEA moved from Lagos to Abuja, the officers of the agency were scattered all over the place”
