Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved contract awards for various projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), flood control in the six geo-political zones as well as for the Ministry of Transportation with a combined worth of about N76.78 billion.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, joined by his FCT and Transportation counterparts, Mohammed Bello and Rotimi Amaechi, respectively, disclosed this while briefing correspondents on the outcome of the Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the presidential villa, Abuja.
The FCT has the largest share of the contracts approved for award with its two projects costing a total of about N56.2 billion.
According to the FCT minister, the approvals are for the construction of Kuje 105 highway, access road and car park for Abuja Light Rail station.
He explained that the Council approved two contracts for the FCT including for the Full Scope Development of Federal Capital Territory Highway 105, Kuje Road, from Airport Expressway to Kuje Junction Stage 1, Abuja at the cost of N54,946,009,160.04.
FCT minister also assured that efforts were underway to complete the longstanding Apo-Karshi road whose implementation he said had been unnecessarily delayed because of lack of funding and design error.
The Minister of Information on his part, gave a breakdown of the 14 projects approved for award under the Ecological Fund spanning the six geo-political zones of the country.
He explained that two memos were presented on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari including the one that sought approval for the award of contracts for the 2022 emergency procurement of first and second quarters accelerated soil erosion, flood and pollution control intervention projects.
The 14 ecological project contracts were approved for award at the total cost of about N15.1 billion.
Mohammed pointed out that the present administration has intervened in 291 projects out of which 263 have been completed and handed over to beneficiary communities and institutions while a total of 28 are at various stages of completion.
In his address, Amaechi said he presented four memos on behalf of his ministry, which were all approved by FEC.
He said FEC approved memo for the clearing of equipment for the deep blue project, which will enable them sight some of these projects in the coastal towns along the coasts,” at the cost N2.7 billion to be paid to the clearing agents.
The Transportation minister said FEC also approved a contract for the reconstruction of the narrow gauge track from Niger to Baro
BELLO WAKILI