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…To reconvene today
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, Wednesday, adjourned its deliberations to Thursday after four hours of addressing half of the memos brought to council.
At the end of yesterday’s meeting, Council approved a total sum of about N960 billion to execute projects covering education, roads, dams, power, health, maritime, terminal building among others.
Briefing State House Correspondents, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola, said Council approved the completion of Police Service Commission headquarters in Abuja after approving for variation to enable its completion over the next six months.
The initial project cost was N3.486 billion but was increased to 3.925 billion, showing a variation of N439.113 million.
He said Council also approved Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum in Anambra State. The project was started but not completed by previous administration.
“Council approved the additional funding to complete it from N1.496 billion to N1.953 billion”. Fashola said Council approved road projects which include Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria to Kano at the cost of N155.7 billion. Efire-Araromi-Aiyede-Aiyela road, to connect Ondo and Ogun State at cost of N14.4 billion. He said for the Enugu-Onitsha highway the Amansia section, council approved the variations of the cost of N38.74 billion to enable the contractor progress with the work.
“Council also approved the awarded part at the Umunya at the cost of N23.4 billion. So if you add that N38.74 billion which was the cost of the Amansea section you will get a total approved cost of N62.06 billion.”
“This contract was first awarded for N24 billion in 2014 but the scale of work done is, to say the least, appalling,” he said.
Fashola said Council also approved money for the intervention of education and healthcare. It approved the provision of independent power plant to nine universities and one teaching Hospital as the first phase of the pilot Programme to cover 37 universities at the cost of N38.965 billion to provide dedicated power to the universities which include street lighting, workshop to train the students post-completion.
Also speaking the Minister of Water Resources, Suliaman Adamu, said, Council ratified augmentation of funds to complete Adada dam Igbo-atiti LGA in Enugu State, with the aim to provide water to the university town of Nsukka. It comprises a dam, some kilometers of pipeline, water supply to some communities along the route and to water treatment plant.
The Enugu State government is expected to take the conveyance system from where we stop from the water treatment plant into Nsukka town and provide the necessary distribution, storage and reservoirs.
“It project was started in 2010. This project has been augmented and council approved that the project be completed now at N5.6 billion by the end of 2018.
“Council also approved the augmentation of phase II Galma Dam and irrigation project in Kaduna Zaria. The purpose of the dam is to provide water Zaria and environs to the city of Zaria. The phase I dam has already been completed while phase II involves irrigation and some additional structures. So there was an augmentation to raise the project N16.5 billion in favour of Gilmore Nig. LTD.
“Council also approved the review of construction fee for Uguashi-Ukw dam project in Delta State. The project is almost 100 percent completed but because of the extension of time over the years, we have to ratify the need to pay consultants for staying on site to oversee that project. So council approved the sum of N133.6 million.”
The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, said Council approved production and distribution of core text books for early education classes 1-3 and for primary 4-6 in public schools nationwide.
The federal government felt there is a need to support in funding education not just the instruction but also the individuals who occupy the institution at the cost of N6.9 billion
“Council also gave approval for Jos Central Library and the construction of the faculty of animal sciences and engineering.”
For ministry of transport, we had approval for two vessels called pilot cutters to escort vessels into the seaport. Prior to this time they were hiring now we have approval for NPA to buy theirs at the cost of N1.9 billion.
Also council approved another two vessels of 17 meters in the eastern port that will help monitor and assist vessels into the seaport at the cost of N1.2 billion.
Council also approved the award of contract for direct procurement of installation and commissioning of Wide Area of multilateration for the Gulf of Guinea at the cost of N3.9 billion. This is to help capture those equipment flying below the radar, for us to be able to pick them because it will be dangerous if we cannot because a lot of them use helicopters.
There was also an approval for the consultancy services to construct a new terminal building at Mallam Aminu Kano Airport. We just want to complete the payment which is at N621 million.
