FEC approves multiple contracts in marathon session, meeting continues Thursday

Briefing State House correspondents on after the meeting, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said Council approved the completion of Police Service Commission headquarters in Abuja.

He said it was approved for variation from the initial cost of N3.486 billion to 3.925 billion, with a variation of N439.113 million.

Fashola said Council also approved Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum in Anambra State which was started under a previous administration but not completed, saying council approved the additional funding to complete it from N1.496 billion N1.953 billion.

Other projects he said were approved include Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria to Kano at the cost of N155.7 billion and 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.

The minister added: “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.”

The minister said FEC also approved money for the intervention of education and healthcare as well as the provision of the 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.

This he stated is 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 FEC ratified augmentation of funds to complete Adada dam Igbo-Atiti LGA in Enugu State, with the aim of providing water to the university town of Nsukka.

The project comprises of a dam, some kilometers of pipeline, water supply to some communities along the route and to water treatment plant.

According to him, “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, in his contribution, said Council approved production and distribution of core textbooks for early education classes 1-3 and for primary 4-6 in public schools nationwide.

He said that the federal government felt there was the 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, adding, “Council also gave approval for Jos Central Library and the construction of the faculty of animal sciences and engineering.”

He added: “For the 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 multi-laceration for the Gulf of Guinea at the cost of N3.9 billion. This is to help capture those equipment flying under the radar, for us to be able  t 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 billion.

Council also approved the purchase of flight calibration inspection at the cost of N111.6 million.

Similarly, FEC approved the engagement of consultants for the project management, monitoring, and evaluation including media and public relations services of the UNEP report.

“The president has also directed that immediately that remediation should start and so the processes for remediation should come to council within the next six months so that we can commence the activities of reclaiming the land from the disastrous stage that it is now. The President reminded the cabinet that he was in Ogoni during the campaign and had promised that the UNEP report will be carried out,” Amaechi stated.

The FCT Minister Mohammed Bello said Council approved the completion of the Goodluck Jonathan Way in the Abuja that links traffic from Keffi-Nyanya into the city.

According to him, “We got an augmentation of an additional N3.8 billion and with the funding, the road will be completed any moment from now.

“Council also approved a critical project which is the Infrastructure development of Wasa resettlement site sitting on about 695 hectares at the cost N26 billion. The infrastructure development will include the construction of 198 roads within the settlement area totaling about 88.95 kilometers. The project is meant to move about 13 indigenous communities in the FCT in that area.”