The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved various contract awards worth about N48,996,488,925 under the ministries of Works and Housing; Finance, Budget and National Planning and Transportation.
Out of this, the Ministry of Works and Housing has contracts approved worth a total of N23,328,063,585 made up of augmentation for a road between Enugu and Anambra states, and repairs on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.
According to the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who briefed correspondents at the end of the council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the approval arose from the two memoranda he presented to the council.
He explained: “The first was with regard to contract cost revision by way of augmentation for the old Enugu/Onitsha Road, from Okpi Junction, all the way to Udioji to Anambra border in Enugu state. The augmentation was in the sum of N17,050,000,000, which revised the contract to N48,996,488,925 with an additional completion time of 42 months.
“The second contract was a fresh contract for the maintenance of the pavement of the Third Mainland Bridge and this was approved in the sum of N6,278,063,585.58 for a period of 24 months.
“This is in consonance with the Executive Order 11 signed by Mr. President for the continued maintenance of public infrastructure.”
On why the repairs are necessary on the Third Mainland Bridge having recently been attended to, Fashola argued: “Now, some of you might ask, I was asked before that, okay, we did some work on Third Mainland Bridge before, why are there potholes now on it?
“So, this contract is in response to the potholes that have become manifest on the entire pavement of the deck of the bridge, spanning 11 kilometers and the interchanges at Adeniji Adele, Adekunle, and Gbagada ramps that all link the bridge.
This is for the resurfacing and all of that.
“Those who are familiar with the bridge will recall that all of these failings were not this manifest on the bridge at the time we were doing the work we were doing.
“The work that we did concentrated largely on the sub-structure of the bridge, the piles, the underwater piles, the pile caps, and also the replacement of the expansion joint and the bearings. These are maintenance works that are critical to the structural integrity of the bridge.
“What we’re dealing with now is different. It is the driving surface and the aesthetics. Some of the rails that have been stolen, some of the planes that are misaligned at ramps that lead you on and off the bridge. So, this is the work that is being done now. So, all the experience of avoiding potholes on the bridge, this award of contract will tackle that.”
Asked whether the work on the bridge will lead to its closure, Fashola said he could not say at the moment, noting however, that the ministry will work with the Lagos State government in whatever decision taken.
The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, who also spoke at the briefing, disclosed that Council approved three memoranda, amounting to a total sum of N18,544,797,176 for works and purchase of operational vehicles for the Nigerian Customs Service.
He said it is for the restructuring of the auditorium of the Service’s headquarters, as well as the operational vehicles, 337 units in number, are aimed at easing work environment and to protect the personnel, motivate them and to allow them to do their job efficiently, especially across very difficult terrains.
Agba stated: “The first one had to do with the provision of additional seats in the auditorium at the customs headquarters in order to increase the sitting capacity so that it can be used for large events, seminars and meetings.
“The makeup of these items are provision and installation of audiovisual system, conference hall, finishing, ground… , provision and installation of acoustic paneling and door for the auditorium, and then partitioning and doors. Inclusive of this is additional seats at the auditorium, at the total cost of N1,257,612,549.76. This is inclusive of 7.5% VAT.
“The other two memos had to do with provision of operational vehicles for customs. One was for 177 vehicles; these are Toyota Coaster, Toyota Hiace (mid-roof), Toyota Land Cruiser Buffalo, total of N9,378,829,942.75, for this set of 177 vehicles.
“For the other one where we had a set 160 vehicles. These are Toyota Hiluxes and also Toyota Land Cruiser Buffalo, that’s 160 vehicles at a total sum of N7,908,354,685.75 and against, its inclusive of 7.5% VAT.”
FEC also approved the procurement and installation of baggage scanners in some railway stations in the country.
The Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, disclosed this in his remarks at the briefing, saying that the devices were necessary because of the need enhance security of lives and property in the nation’s railway facilities.
The contract worth N495 million is for the supply of eight colour imaging X-ray scanners, eight body scanner metal detectors and 50 hand-held scanners for
railway stations in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano states.
The Minister stated: “The Federal Ministry of Transportation had two memos today, which I presented on behalf of the ministry and it had to do with one, the provision of scanners at all railway stations all over the country.
“You’ll all agree with me that in view of the process of security of lives and property, such equipment has to be installed at our railway stations. Since we’re starting railway revolution, we are trying to put in place a lot of things with the railways. We don’t want people to come and damage all that the government has been trying to put in place in that sector.
“So, today there was a memo before Council for the provision of baggage scanners at railway stations and I’m happy to inform you that the Council agreed with us and has approved that contract for scanners to be installed at railway stations so that when people get there and have goods, then they can pass through the scanners and they can be sure that there’s nothing that can destroy, that can cause violence or inflict danger or bring lives and property at stake.”
