FEC okays N77b contracts for works, education

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved contracts worth about N77 billion under the Ministry of Works and Housing and Ministry of Education.

The contracts approved under the Ministry of Works include the construction of a roads in Taraba, Cross River/Akwa Ibom, and Oyo states as well as the repair of Ajaokuta bridge.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, which lasted for over seven hours and  presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of State for Works and Housing, Abubakar Aliyu, broke down the contracts saying: “FEC approved the award of contract for the construction of Jalingo-Kwana-Lao-Padang-Lamido road phase II, which is about 28 kilometers in Taraba State at the cost N6,916,180,860,32 inclusive of VAT.

“This is the phase II of the project, the phase I was completed earlier.

“Council also approved a second memo with three projects at the total cost of N58,938,111,892.28

“The first project is the dualization of the outstanding portion of Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road in Cross River/Akwa Ibom states at the cost of N50,527,447,708.82 with a completion period of 36 months.

“The second project is the rehabilitation of a bridge in Ajaokuta, the bridge which showed an opening at the expansion joint that raised public concern.

“Work has commenced, but the contract was approved today at the cost of N1,534,677,588.25. The expansion joint of a bridge is meant to be maintained from time to time.

“The third project is the rehabilitation of the outstanding section of Iseyin-Okeho road including two bridges in Oyo State at the cost N6,875,987,097.21 with a completion period of 18 months.”

Also speaking, Minister of Education , Adamu Adamu, revealed that FEC approved the contract for the supply of books to primary schools in the country as well as for the construction of perimeter fence at the University of Maiduguri at the cost of about N10 billion.

He explained: “Council approved the procurement of text books for early childhood care and development for primary schools for class 1-3 across the country.

“Fifteen contractors won the contract at the total sum of N6,437,501,430 at the completion period of six weeks.

“Council also approved 23.7 kilometres perimeter fence around the University of Maiduguri at the cost of N1,398,350,004.27 with a completion period of four weeks.

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“It also approved the procurement and installation of security equipment around the fence at the University of Maiduguri.

“The amount of the contract is N1,088,646,602.28 at the completion period of 24 weeks.”

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hajia Ramatu Tijjani, gave to the council, mandate implementation reports of their first 100 days in office.

Akpabio said his ministry would soon commence the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) having secured the certificate of no objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the consent of the Auditor General of the Federation.

In her presentation, the FCT Minister of State said she shed light on the various affordable housing projects being implemented at different Area Councils of the FCT including Wasa and Karshi districts.

She added: “We were able to shed more light on the assignment of creation of 5,000 affordable housing units in the Federal Capital Territory. This has gone a long way already because we have ensured, regulated and profiled investors already and have been able to secure land and make adequate provision for this 5,000 units.

“We have 30 hectares of land in each area council, multiply by six that will give you about 180 hectares of land.”