The Federal Executive Council (FEC), yesterday, approved N47 billion for sundry contracts in the Ministries of Aviation, Works and Housing as well as the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
This was made known at the end of a virtual meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Briefing newsmen, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said Council approved the three memoranda presented by his ministry, including the award of a contract for direct procurement, installation and commissioning of total radar coverage modernisation for the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) at the cost of €14,428,218.17, which is equivalent to N28,039,080,799.40.
Another approval, according to Sirika, was in respect of a contract for the supply and installation of a baggage handling system at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos worth N3,615,265,710.69.
The third contract approved was for the manufacture, supply, installation and operation of a disabled aircraft recovery system at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at the cost of N2,209,593,428.08.
Also briefing, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, said FEC approved the procurement of 46 vehicles for operational use by Customs at the cost of N1,554,200,000.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who spoke on behalf of the Ministry of Education, said Council approved a contract for construction and furnishing of a new senate building and 1,000-capacity conference centre at the University of Abuja.
He said the contract will be awarded to Messrs Hilkam Engineering Consultancy Ltd at the cost of N2,354,247,466.76.
“There was also the approval of another memo presented by the Minister of Power for the award of a 400kw power plant at Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, at the cost of N768,906,174.71.
Meanwhile, Minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the Federal Government plans to spend over N7 trillion for the construction of 854 highways across the country
He said the government will give priority to road projects and bridges leading to ports and major agricultural hubs that attract vehicles carrying heavy goods.
He spoke at the 2022 budget defence of his ministry before the House of Representatives Committee on Works and Housing.
The projects are to be financed through the Presidential Infrastructure Fund, Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, the Sovereign Sukuk Fund and multilateral loans.
Chairman of the Committee, Abubakar Kabir, expressed lawmakers’ readiness to help the ministry deliver on its objectives.