FEC approves N63.7B for roads, N1.4B crane for NRC, others

By Abdullahi Mohammed, Abuja
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N43 billion for the re-construction of roads in five states in the north-east.This was disclosed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Mrs Sadiya Farouk at the end of the weekly FEC meeting.She said the roads would be reconstructed by the North-East Development Commission (NEDC). The said the benefiting states are Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and Yobe.

“Today, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development presented to the council on behalf of the North East Development Commission four memos. These memos are in respect of road reconstruction for five states of the North East region, namely Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe and Bauchi.

“For Borno, we have a 22.5 kilometer road that is to be reconstructed. This road is Ngon-Koshode and Ngon-Dosmari-Zabamari-Kongologo-Kajari road with the contract sum of N13,553,902,668.95The second contract is on reconstruction of 53 Kilometer Gombe-Abba to Kirffi Road in Gombe and Bauchi state in the contract sum of N11,697,355,449.61.The other road is the 54 kilometer Mutai in Gudal Road in Yobe states with the contract sum of N12,199,182,845.70.“The fourth one is the one for Adamawa State, Garkida road, it has a contract sum of N6, 202,214,413.29 inclusive of 7.5 VAT. Garkida road in Adamawa state located at the fringes of the Sambisa forest,” she said.

The minister said the roads were selected in conjunction with the affected state governments and other critical stakeholders.She said when completed, the roads would stimulate economic activities, enhance security and facilitate free movement of goods and people in the five states.“The ministry also is in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and Housing and in the co-funding of various roads in the Northeast region. As you’re aware, the North-East Development Commission was established in 2017. To address issues of rebuilding, reconstructing, rehabilitating, and reintegrating the people of the Northeast who have been affected by the insurgency.

“We are also in partnership and collaboration with the Nigerian Society of engineers in the area of engaging reputable local consultants for the design and supervision of the major works in line with the executive order five for promoting local content in science, engineering, and technology,” she said.

…Approves N1.4 billion crane for Nigeria Railway Corporation
FEC has also approved N1.4 billion for the purchase of spare parts and repairs of crane by the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).Minister of Transportation, Mr Umar Sambo, said this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.He said the crane, which plays a vital role in carrying out activities of the NRC, is down and needs to be fixed.

“Today I had the privilege of presenting before the council, a memorandum from the Ministry of Transportation on behalf of one of its agencies, the Nigeria Railway Corporation, for the purchase of spare parts and to undertake the repairs and overhaul of one of its critical cranes.

Council considered the memorandum because this crane is required by the Corporation for emergency repairs of its rolling stock; it has broken down and therefore needs to be fixed.

Approval was given in the total sum of N1, 491, 065, 722.72 inclusive of 7.5 percent VAT with a completion period of 12 months,” he said. Speaking on the suspension of the Abuja-Kaduna rail following the March 2022 attack, the minister said train services would resume after two core matters are resolved by the government.“These include families traumatized over their family members still in captivity of terrorists and the need to have surveillance facilities to monitor the tracks,” he said.He said government is looking at the best options in terms of surveillance including a possible Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.Asked about the exact timeline within which the train services would resume, the minister said: “If I give a timeline, I’ll be lying to you. It will be insensitive to restart the service if some families weep day and night over their family members still in the bush.”

…And N20.1 billion for Lagos, Kebbi, Taraba roads

Again the same FEC Wednesday approved N11.1 billion for the reconstruction of an intra-city road in Lagos State, South-west of the country.Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, said this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The council approved two memoranda presented by the ministry. The first was a contract for the reconstruction of the Mushin-NNPC-Apapa-Oshodi road, that is the road that goes through Isolo to Ojigbo, at the sum of N11, 166,270,197.85 with a completion period of 20 months,” he said.The minister said the council also approved N9.1 billion as reimbursement for federal roads constructed by Kebbi and Taraba state governments.“This follows the report and recommendation of a council committee set up by the President in order to respond to demands by state governments for refunds on intervention made previously before this administration on federal roads.

“The President subsequently issued the directive that there should be no more intervention by states on federal roads, but there were some that had been done before the life of this administration. So there were three states, Kebbi, Yobe and Taraba. I think on the 22nd of June, I reported that the claims for Yobe for N18.663 billion were approved.“That left for those of Kebbi and Taraba states. So today the council approved N6.706 billion for Kebbi state and N2.470 billion for Taraba state.“An interesting thing to note about these reforms is that they relate to debts and obligations incurred by the previous administration before the life of this administration. So this is also part of the national debt.

…Okays N718 million FCT rail security service

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N718 million for security services and surveillance of the Abuja light rail transportation system.Minister of Federal Captial Territory (FCT), Mr Mohammed Musa Bello, said this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari. “I presented a memo at the Federal Executive Council meeting of today and the council approved a contract for the provision of security services for the Abuja Light Rail Mass Transit System.“These companies are Messers Al-Ahali Security Guards Limited and Messers Seaguard Security and Protective Company Limited. They are going to provide security to the entire 45 kilometers of track including 12 stations.“And these security services are meant to protect the key infrastructure on the rail tracks, the signaling and communication equipment as well as the electrical system.“Al-Ahali security guard Limited is going to secure 27.4 kilometers of the track, covering eight stations at the cost of N407, 214,000 over a two year period, while Seaguard Securities and Protective Company Limited is going to secure 18 kilometers of the rail tracks including four railway stations and that is at a cost of N310, 979,250,” he said.