FEC Okays N144.7b FCT water projects

THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved three contracts for greater Abuja water supply in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with a combined worth of N144.7billion.

Minister of FCT, Mohammad Bello, who briefed State House State correspondents after the meeting presided over by acting President Yemi Osinbajo, said the  implementation of the contracts would ensure the provision of potable water for the greater part of Abuja city.

He said: “During FEC meeting, we discussed three very important memoranda from FCT.

The first one is the approval of the contract for the construction of greater Abuja water supply project at the total cost of 470 million USD.

“This is a very important project for the residents of city because it aims to provide portable water to the greater part of the city and it intends to leverage on the facility that we have in the city. That is lower Osuma Dam as well as the Water treatment plant for the city which is reputed to be one of the largest on the African continent.”

He explained that water supply to the city based on the master plan has not be able to extend to other phases of the city and the intention of this project which is being funded by the China-EXIM Bank is to provide water to what is called loops 1, 2, 5 and 6.

According to the minister, the overall master plan for the city has 10 loops with loops 3 and 4 already providing water to Garki, Maitama, Asokoro and Central Business Districts.

“With these new additional 4 loops, water is going to be extended to other very critical districts of the city and some of them are under loop 1: Mumkoro axis, Gwarimpa 1, 8, 2, Mbora, Karimo, Dape, Kafe and Wumba. These as you know as areas of the city that have expanded tremendously over the last few years,” he assured.

He stated that Loop 2 will provide water to Katampe, Mabushi, Utako, Wuye, Dakibiun Jabi, Kado and Jahi Districts while loop Number 5 will provide water to Durumi, Duste, Gadua, Luboyi and Kaura.

“Of the four loops under this particular contract, loop number 6 will provide water to Galadimawa, Dapuya, Lokogoma, Wumba, Saraji, Kabusa, Okanje, Pyakasa,” he added.

The second contract worth N186 million was for the supply of 1000 tons of alum to serve the FCT water board to enable it provide portable water to the residents of the city.

The third contract has to do with Wupa Water Treatment Plant which is an extension of contract to a period of 24 months.

This contract includes its maintenance, training and retraining and additional training of competent staff, Bello said.

“These three memos are very significant for us as residents of the FCT and we assure that their conclusion and operations will add to the value of life and health of our citizens,” he added.

The FCT minister regretted the continued dumping of refuse on Karishi-Orozo-Jikwoyi-Nyanya road in the FCT which he said had been a concern for his administration, promising that something drastic may soon be done to eliminate the menace.

In his remarks, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udoma, assured that government was working towards pulling the country out of recession by the end of the year and was therefore hoping for the speedy passage of the 2017 budget to which the recovery programme is tied.

He added: “I also informed council of the released of the Economic recovery Growth ‎Plan which is already on the website of the ministry of budget and national planning as well as the budget office.

“We look forward to the early passage of the 2017 budget so that we can fast track the implementation ‎of the plan. As you know the plan fed into the 2017 budget. So many of the initiatives in the plan are reflected in the budget.”