Federal Executive Council okays N102.08billion, $1.79b for roads, rail, other projects

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved N102.077 billion and $1.79 billion for roads projects across the country and rail project in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola and Minister of FCT, Bello Mohammad, spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

With them at the briefing was Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Fashola said N80 billion was approved for 12 roads and bridges in various states including Taraba, Adamawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, Plateau, Osun, Kwara, Kano, Oyo, Enugu, and Kaduna.

He also said that there was approval of N150.84 million for the engineering and Consultancy design for access road 1 and 2 ?to link Asaba in Delta State and Onitsha in Anambra State to link the Second Niger Bridge project.

“Subsequent to the award of further works of the Second Niger Bridge we have started work now by this approval on the design of the link road that will connect the two states to the bridge.

“The design is expected to be completed in six months and we will start procurement and as the bridge advances, we can then connect the two states.” he added

Fashola said there were also approvals for power projects?, relating to the extension of the consultancy and project management contract for the Katsina Wind Energy Farm project.

He said: “It was awarded in 2010 and should have been completed in 2013. The expatriate who were implementing it were kidnapped and when he was eventually rescued he never came back and that delayed the project.

“But we have revived the project, a new contracting team is back on site. The contract of the consultants representing us has expired and so we are extending his contract to cover new period of completion.” he said

Another contract on power, which he said was approved by FEC, is the power sector recovery programme.

He said “It’s a programme that comprises many policy actions, operational and financial interventions that needs to be carried out by government to improve transparency, service delivery, performance of DISCOS, Transmissions companies, the entire value change in order to create more viable power sector that is private sector driven.

“Some of the highlights of the programme is how to simplify and reduce the cash deficits that have accumulated ?as a result of previous unilateral reductions of tariff by the last administration during the running of the elections, how to make the DISCOS viable, accountable, responsive to customers, ensure stability of the grid and expansion of the grid and transparency and communication within the sector.

“And also processes for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) debts? and how to improve sector governance, our roles in the business, the quality of personnel on the board of the DISCOS, it addresses access to renewable energy especially in rural areas using mini-grids and stand alone solutions and how we are going to carry out the solutions that have been developed for 37 federal universities and seven tertiary hospitals.

“And how to solve the Niger Delta problem and also how to ensure there is a stable and predictable foreign exchange policy for the sector so that it is somewhat protected from sudden head winds of the volatility of the foreign exchange market so that they can plan and deliver.

“Also how to address the issue of vandalization at consumer and production levels of pipelines and so on as this will help bring confidence to the market and stimulate the appetite that currently exists globally for Nigeria’s power sector.

“We see a lot of people who want to invest but some of them are tied to what other international financial institutions do? and the institutions are also waiting to see us commit to these things.” he said

The FCT Minister said the Council approved three key projects for the FCT.

He said N2.454 billion was approved for 5 kilometre road to link Ring Road III to Wasa Junction with Karshi -Ara-Apo Road.

Approval, he said, was also given for the award of contract for Phase 2 of the Abuja Mass Transit Lot 1B (26.77km) which is from Ring Road I, passing through Area 10 beside Wuse Market, Berger Junction, Jabi Motor Park, through Life Camp to Gwagwa and also covering the remaining part of Lot 1A (5.76km).

He said the contract also included rolling stocks, workshop equipment and three years management contract.

He said that FEC also okayed the$1.79 billion contract awarded to China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC) yo be funded by China EXIM Bank.

The Minister said that FEC approved development of infrastructure at Jahi District at the amount of N19.473 billion