FG Approves N24.3bn for Benin-Shagamu Road From George Oji in Abuja

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a total contract sum of N29.5 billion, out of which the Benin-Shagamu express road received N16.67 billion as augmentation to its original N7.5 contract sum.
This brings the total to N24.27 billion.
The review of the contract for the reconstruction of the Benin-Shagamu road, according to the Information and Communication Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili, followed the concessioning arrangement put in place for the road by government.
The completion period for the work was put at 24 months. Another critical contract also awarded by FEC was for the rehabilitation of the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu, at a cost of N4.13 billion.
Completion period was put at 12 months. Akunyili, who spoke to correspondents after the FEC meeting in Abuja yesterterday, disclosed that the airport project was approved sequel to a memo from the Minister of Aviation Babatunde Omotaba alerting cabinet members that old age and weathering activities had deteriorated the runway and allied facilities at the airport.
The Council, according to the information minister, also approved a total of N2.5 billion for four contracts to be executed for the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
These include the one of N788.77 million for the procurement of equipment and provision of services for gas reserve studies for the department.
This will help the DPR determine and authenticate Nigeria’s gas reserves, confirm the location and quantity of the nation’s resources, explained Akunyili.
Also in a bid to increase the nations’ oil reserve from 35 to 40 billion barrels by 2011, the FEC approved a contract of N201.31 million for the acquisition of geological and geophysical software and work stations for the interpretation of seismic data, integration of well data generation of geological model and reservoir management for DPR.
FEC again approved N768.4 million contract for the Real Time Gas Pipeline System Surveillance for the DPR to stem pipeline vandalism, ensure quick location and repair of damaged pipelines, as well as facilitate immediate detection, location and quantification of pipeline leakage, whether offshore or on land.
Another Real Time Monitoring system for gas facilities, production and operations costing N724.5 million was approved to facilitate prompt identification of problems and reduce personnel risk, manpower requirements and operation cost.
Other decisions taken by the Council include the award of contract for the construction of the 20-kilometre stretch of the Damboa-Chibok-Mbalala road in Borno State, which will cost N1.24 billion, while the review of scope of work for Kano-Kazaure-Daura-Mai’Adua road in Katsina State was approved for N2.31 billion.
For the education sector, the FEC approved the procurement and distribution of textbooks for primary four pupils in Nigerian public schools in an attempt to reform improve skills and enhance standards.
The books being supplied through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) are in English Language, Mathematics, and Basic Science and will cost N1.17 billion.
The Council also approved the award of contract in the sum of N1.5 billion for the Ministry of Defence to construct Participants’ Quarters at the permanent site of the National Defence College in Piwoyi district of Abuja.