Nigeria’s infrastructure deficits continued to receive the focused attention of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) , with the approval of N77bn for the execution of various projects across the country
The Minister of State Works and Housing, Abubakar Aliyu, while briefing State House Correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, said FEC approved a total of N67bn for roads and bridges
Aliyu who briefed alongside the Ministers of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, , informalities and Culture, Lai Mohammed and Minister State, FCT, RamatuAliyu, disclosed that FEC approved memo for contract to construct the jalingo , Lau, to Karim lamido road covering 29 kilometers at the cost of N6.9b
“ FEC also approved the Itu, Odukpani road at the cost of N50.6b , as well as rehabilitation of Ajaokuta bridge which showed opening in December, at the cost of N1.5bn
“FEC approves the award of contract for the construction of Jalingo-Kwana-Lao-Padang-Lamido road phase II, which is about 28 kilometers in Taraba State at the cost N6,916,180,860,32 inclusive of VAT.
This is the phase II of the project, the phase I was completed earlier.
Council also approved a second memo with three projects at the total cost of N58,938,111,892.28
The first project is the dualization of the outstanding portion of Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road in Cross River/Akwa Ibom states at the cost of N50,527,447,708.82 with a completion period of 36 months.
“The second project is the rehabilitation of a bridge in Ajaokuta. The bridge which showed an opening at the expansion joint raised public concern. Work has commenced but the contract was approved today at the cost of N1,534,677,588.25. The expansion joint of a bridge is meant to be maintained from time to time.
“The third project is the rehabilitation of the outstanding section of Iseyin-Okeho road including two bridges in Oyo State at the cost N6,875,987,097.21 with a completion period of 18 months.
Education Minister, Adamu Adamu however, announced the approval of contracts for the purchase of text books for early childhood education for classes one, two and three at the cost of N6.4b to be supplied within six months
FEC also approved contracts for the Construction of perimeter fencing for the University of Maiduguri at the cost N1.3bn and another contract for the provision of Security on the fence at the cost of N1.8bn.
Niger Delta Minister, Godswill Akpabio, while providing update of Ministerial
Mandate Implementation plans for his Ministry, disclosed 1600 citizens in the region has been empowered, while six skill acquisition centers in each of the state, are currently under construction
Akpabio said the Ministry has concluded plans to commence the forensic auditing of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
He also announced that the Ministry will soon commence the construction of nine housing estates in the states covered by the Commission.
“ We have secured the Certificate of No Objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement BPP, and we are trying to bring in the forensic auditors who will carry out the audits
“ We have designated 10 centers for the collation of information where NDDC projects are cited
“ We have also concluded plans to complete the over 9000 NDDC projects abandoned by the previous administration in various parts of the NDDC stated.
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
