ZUL-HAJJ 9 1430 A.H.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER . 26 2009.
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N71bn highway projects underway-FEC
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved the contracts for 20 number highway projects for N70.99 billion.
The minister of information and communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili disclosed this at a press briefing shortly after the meeting, presided over by Vice- President Goodluck Jonathan.
Akunyili said that the contracts were awarded under the Federal Road Network Rehabilitation Programmes of the federal government.
She said: ``The socio-economic importance of the rehabilitation of the Federal Highway network in line with President Umaru Yar'adua's 7-Point
Agenda, is not in doubt.
'' Also the state of disrepair of some of these roads calls for urgent need for rehabilitation.
``It is therefore in line with these objectives that the minister of works, housing and urban development, Dr Hassan Lawal presented a memo to council seeking approval for the rehabilitation of some of these roads on zonal basis.''
Expatiating on the contracts, Lawal said that the roads rehabilitation and construction cut across the six geo-political zones of the country.
``All, except two got four projects. North Central and North East zones got two each while the four others got four each.
``I must say that the award are not done on equal basis. They are equitable but not necessarily equal,'' he said.
The minister said that from the beginning of the year till date, 54 road contracts had been awarded, traversing the entire length and breadth of Nigeria.
``The first phase of 34 contracts, I am happy to say that in each geo-political zone today, the contractors have mobilised to sites and they are working,'' he said.
In a related development, the council also approved the award of contract for the purchase of a fast patrol craft for the Nigerian Navy at the the sum of 8.8 million US dollars.
Akunyili said that the ASD Fast Patrol Craft would facilitate effective patrol of the Nigerian maritime borders and Exclusive Economic Zone by the Navy.
The contract awarded in favour of Messrs Suncraft International Incorporated has four months completion period.
FEC also approved contract for the purchase of five fairly used PUMA SA 330 SM helicopters from France under Government to Government contract at the sum of 68.7 million Euro.
The minister said that the helicopters would be deployed in the areas of air support for Nigerian troops in peace keeping operations as well as air support surveillance and reconnaissance in the Niger Delta.
The council also approved the contract for the purchase of 116 peugeot series operational vehicles for the Nigeria Customs Service directly from Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Ltd. at the sum of N504.2 million.
Akunyili also disclosed that FEC approved the award of contract for the purchase of Arms and Ammunition for the Nigeria Customs Service in the sum of N382.2 million in favour of Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the minister of finance, Dr Mansur Muhtar has disclosed that the National Assembly is willing to consider capital spending to the end of the first quarter of 2010.
Muhtar, who was also at the briefing said that the gesture would enable the executive arm of government to implement its programmes.
``We are very delighted that the National Assembly has indicated its willingness to allow capital spending to continue through to the first quarter.
``We are very delighted with this decision and we are fully supportive of this as this will allow us to deliver on the promises that this administration has taken,'' he said.
He noted that considerable progress had been made in the implementation of the 2009 budget.
``We did have a bit of a challenge in relation to the ministry of works because of the delay associated with the rainy season.
``We are optimistic that we will continue to make progress in ensuring budget performance,'' he said.
The minister also expressed optimism that the 2010 budget would be passed in good time by the National Assembly.
``We had a discussion today. we are very delighted that the House of Reps. and the Senate have expressed a very strong commitment to ensuring speedy passage of the 2010 budget.
``We work closely with them in putting some of the proposal together which will facilitate the process,'' he said.
