FEC okays N22.7b power projects for Delta communities to keep peace

THE Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday, approved contracts worth $64 million or (about N22.7billion) for the provision of electricity projects to communities around Escravos protested the exploitation of gas in their areas to provide power to those areas when they themselves do not enjoy power.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, revealed this while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the presidential villa, Abuja.

He said the communities had protested against the implementation of the Lagos-Escravos Pipeline which had consequently delayed the project.

The Minister said to keep peace in the area, the government had been supplying them with light using generators which were costing about N18 million a month.

He said the approved projects, which are in two lots, will now be permanent infrastructure for the benefit of the affected communities.

The minister said: “What we took to the Council today was to seek approval for the award of contract for the supply of power to the contiguous communities around the Escravos areas.

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“We had approvals earlier to do the Escravos to Lagos Pipeline system. It was then stalled following a protest by the community over the plan to move 50% of the gas to provide power to other areas when the communities did not have power.

“Today, Council approved $64m to fund two lots. One to build the power plant to supply power itself and the other distribute the power to all the affected communities.

“Council granted approval in two lots.

“With this, we believe power will now be provided for the communities within four or five years and become a permanent structure.

“The only way we had been able to maintain peace in the communities was to use generators to supply power which had been costing NNPC about N18m every month to manage.”

Also speaking, Minister of Water Resources Minister, Suleiman Adamu, said the Council also approved the revised total estimated cost for the complete rehabilitation of the Cham dam and development of 100 hectares of irrigation in Balanga local government of Gombe State.

According to him, this is part of this present government’s efforts to complete projects it inherited which started in 2011 and suffered from the supply of funds.

He explained: “Work stopped at about 65% completion, but we need to complete it so we renegotiated the project with the contractors.

“We, therefore, brought a request for augmentation for N612m. The project is being handled by the Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority.

“It was originally constructed in 1982. It had to be reconstructed. The original contract cost was N832m in 2011.

“Secondly, l was able to brief Council in the latest flood data. The water level in Lokoja had dropped by 6 centimetres and the water level in Lagdo dam in Cameroon is also going down.

“So, we think that the worst is over, unless if any unforeseen incidents occur now. We should be able to see most of the flood waters go down from now on.”

In his remarks, Senior Special Assistant to the president Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed more approvals made by the council during the meeting.

Among them, he said, three went to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which received approvals for facility maintenance service for its newly built high rise headquarters.

Shehu said: “They got N500million for upkeep and maintenance of the place. They also got approval for procurement of 700 computers, 100 laptops and 25 laser printers at about N459million.

“The third one is the purchase of 15 utility vehicles. They are expanding and need the vehicles for their operations. All the vehicles are from local assembly plants.

“FEC also approved five water patrol boats for the Nigerian Ports Authority, Marina, Lagos. This is for coastline security.”