The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved contracts worth N459,083,625,766 for the Ministry of Transportation and barracks for officials of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Transportation Minister Mu’azu Sambo Jaji announced these while addressing State House Correspondents after the week’s FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Jaji said his ministry presented two memoranda to the council and both got approvals.
Jaji said,
“The Federal Ministry of Transportation, this afternoon, presented two memoranda to council on behalf of two of its agencies.
“The first agency is the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), which sought to provide for the award of contract for the construction and supply of for customised fire service search and rescue vans for extrication of accident victims.
“For Rivers Ports, Port Harcourt; Lagos Port Complex, Tin Can Island Port and Marina (NPA) headquarters, all in Lagos, Council considered the memorandum and approved the award of the contract as recommended.
“A reviewed by the Bureau of Public Procurement in the sum of N510,934,600 million, inclusive of seven and a half per cent Valued Added Tax (VAT) with a completion period of nine months in favor of Messrs All Works Commercial Company Limited.
“The second memorandum presented by the ministry was on behalf of the ministry itself but for the ultimate management by the Nigerian Railway Cooperation (NRC).
“The memorandum sought council’s consideration and approval for the award of contract for the procurement of rolling stock operation and maintenance equipment for the Kano-Maradi standard gauge rail line that is currently under construction.
“The contract was awarded to Messers Motor Engine Nigeria Limited …in the sum of $984,722,302.05, inclusive of seven and a half per cent verse with a completion period of four years.”
Also addressing reporters at the post-FEC briefing, Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami said the FEC approved N5,157,265,770 for the construction of barracks for the NDLEA personnel.
Malami stated,
“What was presented today by the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice was a council memo at the instance or the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“As you are aware, there has been renewed and sustained onslaught against drug cartels and barons over time. Within the three quarters of 2023, about 18,940 arrests were affected by the NDLEA, and indeed drugs, the estimated value of which is over N40 billion, were confiscated. Again, about 2,904 convictions were recorded.
“These successes recorded, unfortunately, translated to unprecedented threats and attacks on personnel, officers, men and other ranks of the agency. Then, the need has arisen for the Federal Government to consider the possibility of taking security measures that will now provide the desired protection for the officers and men of the agency.”
The minister said two contracts were awarded: the first to Whitchino Engineering Limited, for the construction of accommodation for narcotics superintendents and narcotic assistant blocks, each consisting six numbers of three bedroom, semi-detached flats, 12 flats, and five blocks each, consisting 16 number one bedroom terraces plots, 80 plots total 92 plots at the cost of N2,267,785,450.83.
The second contract, he said, was awarded to JP Sigma Nigeria Limited at N2,889,480,320.55 to build accommodation for narcotics superintendents and narcotics agents.
The accommodation, Malami said, would comprise two blocks each consisting six numbers of three bedroom, semi-detached flats, 12 flats and 11 blocks, each consisting eight numbers of two bedrooms, semi-detached flats, 89 flats, totalling 12 plus 88, which makes 100 flats.
“So, the memo was taken, and it was accordingly approved by the Council,” he said.
Also, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Mohammed Abubakar said his ministry presented a memo on the revised 2022 National Agricultural Seed Policy.
According to him, the country has been operating on the 2010 policy, which was revised in 2015 before the latest revision in 2022.
Abubakar said the revision became necessary because of the need to have improved seeds.
Addressing reporters after the FEC meeting yesterday, Abubakar said Port Harcourt had been selected as the hub for the 25,000 metric tonnes on wheat expected from the Ukraine.
The minister also said Russia had extended its supply of grains to the country through the United Nations (UN) arrangement.
He said the wheat consignment from Ukraine was already on the high sea, adding that the hub would create economic activities in the area.
