Kebbi, Taraba got N9.1bn refunds for work on federal roads

• FEC okays  N55bn contracts for N/E, Mushin -Oshodi roads

• N710m security surveillance for Abuja rail

By Egena Sunday Ode

The Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday approved refunds of N6.7b and N2.47 billion to Kebbi and Taraba state governments respectively for road projects executed by the states on behalf of the federal government.

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola revealed this while briefing State House correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“These were part of the public debts inherited by the current administration and it also cuts across party levels, as all the states that made submissions have now been settled,” Fashola said.

 FEC also  approved contracts for various sectors of the economy across the country, including N55 billion for the construction of roads in five North East states and the Oshodi/ Munshin/ Apapa roads in Lagos state.

Fashola said that FEC approved the N11.1 billion contract for the Mushin – Apapa – Oshodi road, to be executed on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis.

He submitted reports and recommendations of the Council Committee for refunds on interventions made by some States on Federal Roads to the council also.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk, disclosed that FEC approved road construction contracts, across five states worth N43.4b for the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

She said, “They are in respect of road construction, reconstruction for five states of the North East region, namely Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe and Bauchi. For Borno, we have a 22.5-kilometre road that is to be reconstructed.

The roads being reconstructed include the Ngon-Koshode and Ngon-Dosmari-Zabamari-Kongologo-Kajari roads with the contract sum of N13,553,902,668.95

The Council also approved the reconstruction of 53 Kilometer Gombe-Abba to Kriffy Road in Gombe and Bauchi state in the contract sum of N11,697,355,449.61.

The other road is the 54-kilometre Mutai in Gudal Road in Yobe states with the contract sum of  N12,199,182,845.70.

“The fourth one is the one for Adamawa State, Garkida road, it has a contract sum of N6,202,214,413.29  inclusive of 7.5 VAT. Garda road in Adamawa state is located at the fringes of the Sambisa forest.

She pointed out that the roads are being taken into consideration and selected in conjunction with the State governments and other critical stakeholders, adding that “These roads are expected to stimulate our economic activities, enhance security and facilitate the freer movement of goods and people in these affected states within the zone”

The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, disclosed that FEC also approved a contract worth N1.4b contract for the repair of cranes owned by the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

The crane, he said, is for emergency repairs, which he described as a “critical Crane for the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Railway Corporation “

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mohammed Bello, also explained that the Council approved N781m contracts for security surveillance for the Abuja light rail tracks.

Bello said the contracts were awarded to Messers Halali security guards limited and Messers Seaguard security and protective Company Limited.

He narrated: “They are going to provide security to their entire 45 kilometres of track including 12 stations. And these security services are meant to protect the key infrastructure on the rail tracks, the signalling and communication equipment as well as the electrical system.

“Halali security guard Limited is going to secure 27.4 kilometres of the track, covering eight stations at the cost of N407,214,000 over two years, while Seaguard securities are protective Company Limited is going to secure 18 kilometres of the rail tracks including four railway stations and that is at a cost of N310,979,250.”