From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The 39th virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved over N82 billion for the completion of infrastructure projects within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.
Bello said the approved contracts also include that of the rehabilitation of the Federal Secretariat Abuja.
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.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, explained that the FCT contracts were not new.
He said: “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 the 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.”
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk, on her part 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 said the benefiting States, which include Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, 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.
The minister of Power, Sale Mamman said council approved two memos presented.
He said one is the procurement of four number of 150 NBA 331 3233 power transformers for TCN in favour of Messrs Gilbo Nigeria Ltd these transformers needed to replace the transformer that have been in system for the past 35 years and so as to in order to improve quality or 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 of the contract for the production and delivery of one million sterilised metres grips embossed for three metres test stations in Oshodi, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kaduna for the sum of N155,227,619.18
Those who attended the meeting physically were Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari.
Other members who attended the meeting were those of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Finance, Zainab Ahmed, Justice, Abubakar Malami, Agriculture Sabo Nanono and Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
The Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan and other Ministers participated in the weekly cabinet meeting from their various offices in Abuja.