THE Federal Executive Council (FEC), yesterday, approved contracts
totaling about N8.5 billion for the construction of two bridges in Edo
State and rehabilitation of the Umuahia-Owerri road.
Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, who briefed state House
correspondents after the meeting said the council also approved for
award, the contract for the procurement of two high speed boats for the
Nigeria Customs to aid the service to in surveillance of the nation’s
waterways and fight smuggling.
According to the minister, the council also approved for the
coordination of the acquisition and deployment of all Information
Communication Technology (ICT) intervention by Ministries, Department
and Agencies (MDAs).
Speaking on the bridge contracts, the minister said they would be
constructed along Auchi Polytechnic-Ekperi-Agenebode road at a cost of
N1.3 billion with a completion period of 12 months.
The construction of the bridge, Labaran Maku said, would create
better access and help to alleviate the ecological problems in the area.
Minister of Works, Arch. Mike Onolememen, Mr Maku added, also
presented another memo for the rehabilitation of Umuahia-Owerri road at
the cost of N4.2 billion with a completion period of 24 months, adding
that the socio-economic importance of the road and its potential to
reduced vehicle operating cost, travel time and accidents on the roads
were some of the considerations taken before the approval.
The Information minister explained that the purchase of the speed
boats was necessary because of the increase in smuggling and piracy
activities along the nation’s waterways.
He explained that the proposal for the purchase which was submitted
by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, also included the provision of surveillance
equipment for the boats and training of personnel that would man them.
Source: Vanguardnews
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