FEC okays N813b for road, water, other projects nationwide

• As minister explains delay in Ogoni cleanup

THE Federal Executive Council ( FEC), yesterday, approved the change of scope for the construction of the Abuja- Kaduna- Kano highway from N155b to N797.2b.

FEC also approved N10.4b for the procurement of fire fighting vehicles and equipment for the Federal Fire Service and N6b for provision of potable water in Gokana, Khana, Eleme and Tai, being the four Ogoni council areas of Rivers State. Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola said the road, hitherto undergoing renovation, would be completely reconstructed, thereby changing the cost of the project from N155b to N797.2b.

He said: “I presented one memorandum and one report with respect to the Abuja- Kaduna- Zaria- Kano highway, which was to change the scope of work from rehabilitation previously awarded because parts of the pavement had deteriorated, to full reconstruction of two lanes on both sides.

“The council considered and approved the request for the change of scope and the incidental cost consequence, which changed the existing contract for N155b to N797.2b for full reconstruction of the main carriage way, trailer parks, way bridges, toll stations and additional side lanes in the built- up areas across the FCT, Niger Kaduna and Kano states, served by the road and FEC approved it for the same contractor.”

He listed the rehabilitated roads, which would soon be handed over as the BeninAsaba, Abuja- Lokoja, KanoKatsina, Onitsha- Aba, Sagamu- Benin, Kano- Maiduguri, Enugu- Port Harcourt, Ilorin- Jebba and Lagos- Badagry highways.

Speaking, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola said: “The council considered and approved N10.4b to cover supply of 44 firefighting engines, 15 water tankers, 15 rapid intervention fire engines to respond to distressed calls.

“The approval also covers supply of 20 basic life support ambulances. So, we are looking at 79 firefighting equipment and support vehicles.”

Aregbesola said the procurement of the vehicles would enhance the capacity of the Federal Fire Service to effectively control and manage fire emergencies.

He appealed to state governments to also equip their fire services, so as to compliment the Federal Fire Service operating in their localities.