THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved contracts totaling N100,234,252,930.53 for some road projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Niger Delta region as well as for the provision of potable water for some parts of Kwara State.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Supervising Minister of Information, Nurudeen Mohammed, said the Council was briefed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on the introduction of commemorative N100 banknotes to celebrate Nigeria’s Centenary.
Mohammed was joined at the briefing by the Ministers of FCT, Bala Mohammed; Niger Delta Affairs, Stephen Oru; and Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, The FCT minister explained that FEC approved an upward review of contract for provision of engineering infrastructure at Wuye District to the tune of N3.4 billion. The approval increased the total sum of the contract from N39.6 billion to N43.12 billion, and will now include additional arterial ring roads and pedestrian bridge. Another contract of N7.1 billion was approved for the FCT Administration to construct additional roads along the Inner Northern Expressway (INEX) that serves the Abuja Industrial Park in Karmo District. The council also approved a contract of N43 billion for completion of the Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX).
According to Bala Mohammed, this will help decongest vehicular traffic within the city centre and provide an alternative route to the Abuja airport. He said he presented a memo for the award of contract for the construction of one service carriageway (14km) of inner Northern Expressway (INEX) from ring road 111 to ring road IV Abuja Industrial Park in favour of Messrs Salini Nig Ltd, in the sum of N7,179,322,294.15 with a completion period of 24months.
The INEX is one of the key planned expressways provided in the Abuja master plan connecting to the ring roads from the central area through phases I, II, III and IV, terminating at the outer Northern Expressway (ONEX). The road is being undertaken in phases with the right hand service carriage way already developed between the ring road II and ring road III bounding Karimo district.
Council approved another award of contract for the provision of access road and engineering infrastructure to plot 1458 and adjoining plots around Hot FM in Gudu District in the sum of N1,794,778,172.88 in favour of Messers Sageto Limited with a completion period of 17months.
Council further approved the award of contract for the extension of Inner Southern Expressway from Southern Parkway (58/59) to Ring Road II in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in favour of Messers CGC Nig Ltd in the sum of N43,458,849,973.94 with a completion period of 30 months.? The FCT minister presented another memo seeking for the upward review of the contract sum for the provision of engineering infrastructure of Wuse District.
The FCT minister informed council that the purpose of the memorandum is to seek council’s approval for the upward review of the contract sum for the provision of engineering infrastructure at Wuye district in favour of Mess’s Arab Contractors (O.A.O) Nigeria Ltd, in the sum of N3,431,290,231.20, thereby revising the contract sum from N39,681,137,736,46 to N43,112,427,967.67 to accommodate the construction of a flyover bridge at Wuye District, the interaction of Arterial Road N1/Ring Road 1 being Nnamdi Azimiwe Road, as additional work to the contract with an additional completion period of 20 months.
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs disclosed that N43 billion was approved for construction of a 15km section of the East-West Road. Minister of Water Resources, Ochakpe, said the Council approved the revision of the contract sum for provision of potable water supply in some parts of Kwara State from N903 million to N1.02 billion. Similarly, Council approved the award of contract for consultancy services for the construction of Nigeria’s Cultural Centre and Millennium tower project in Abuja in favour of Messers Sal Consults in the sum of N383,147,078.13. The consultants are to review the designs, monitor the project and offer full quantity surveying.
