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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Executive Council presided over by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has approved the sum of $1.484 billion for the rehabilitation of both Warri and Kaduna refineries.
The rehabilitation of Warri and Kaduna refineries awarded to Messers Saipem SPA and Saipem Contracting Limited at the combined total sum of $1.484 billion, will be rehabilitated in three phases of 21, 23 and 33 months, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, announced at the end over six hours meeting, which started with a minute silence in honour of the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Malami Buwai, who served during the regime of the former Head of State, General Sani Abacha from 1994 – 1996.
Sylva, also said 15 per cent of the total sum for the rehabilitation of the two refineries in Port Harcourt which was awarded earlier this year had been paid to the construction firm currently working at the site.
According to him, $897,678,800 will be spent to repair the Warri refinery while the Kaduna refinery will gulp $586,902,256.
He stressed that the completion of the rehabilitation exercise will be in three phases spread over 77 month period.
Sylva said: ‘The completion of the rehabilitation of Warri and Kaduna refineries is going to be in three phases. The first phase will be completed within 21 months, in 23 months phase two will be completed and in 33 months, the full rehabilitation will be completed.’
On Port Harcourt refinery, Sylva noted that the repair work had commenced adding that already the first 15% of the contract sum has been paid to the contractor and the contractor was fully mobilised to site.
“We also discussed in council the need for us to give periodic updates. Soon, we’ll be going to inspect the work in the Port Harcourt refinery, and you will all be with us on that visit.’
He also announced that the Council approved the acquisition of 20% minority stakes by the NNPC in Dangote Petroleum and petrochemical refinery in the sum of $2.76 billion.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who briefed on behalf of his colleague in the Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said the council approved two memos to expand and consolidate on the rail projects.
‘The first one actually has to do with the Kano-Jibia rail and then the other one has to do with the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri route,’ he said.
‘Actually, what was approved there today was funding to ensure that work starts immediately on those two routes. Another memo that was approved today was the ratification of the President’s approval for the award of the contract for the Lagos-Calabar coastal standard gauge rail.
‘You’ll remember that this is a very old project, which we inherited. Under the former administration, approval was given but was nothing was done, but today, the council has given the approval to commence the Lagos-Calabar coastal route.
‘This particular route is very important because, after the Lagos-Kano route, this Lagos-Calabar coastal route actually will link all the coastal cities in the country. The proposed route alignment is to go from Lagos to Shagamu, Shagamu to Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Ode to Ore, Ore to Benin City, Benin to Sapele, Sapele to Warri, Warri to Yenagoa, Yenagoa to Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt to Aba, Aba to Uyo, Uyo to Calabar, Calabar to Akamkpa to Ikom, to Obudu Ranch, with a branch line from Benin City to Asaba, Onitsha Bridge and then Port Harcourt to Onne Deep Seaport.
‘This particular project is very important, especially for our coastal economy.
‘The cost of the project is $11,174,769,721.74 and we have six years for the completion of this project.’
Minister of State Education Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba said the council also approved two memos.
‘The first one dealt with the ratification of convention Nigeria had already acceded to. The convention seeks to regularise the recognition of certificates and diplomats all across Africa. The second memo also dealt with the award of contract for the building of two blocks of social science complexes at Adamawa State University in Mubi for a total sum of N1,103,000,000 which was a TETFUND allocation that emerged from the year 2017 through 2021,’ he said.
Minister of Power Sale Mamman said has approved two projects from the Federal Ministry of Power.
‘One is the construction of two by 60 MVA 132 33 substations at Gagarawa, Jigawa State in favour of Messrs Power Control and Appliances Limited in the sum of N454,212,396.05,’ he said.
The second one is the award of the contract for the engineering, procurement and construction of 2 by 30 MVA 132 33 substations at Bonny, Ibom, Akwa Ibom State in favour of Messrs YEMEC West Africa Limited in the sum of US$6.2 offshore plus N1.8 billion onshore.’
