FEC approves N98.5b contracts for Niger Delta

As reported by The Eagle Online before the commencement of the meeting on Wednesday, the Federal Executive Council has approved contracts for 28 infrastructural development projects for the Niger Delta Development Commission in the country’s nine oil producing states.
The projects, which will cover roads, bridges, land reclamation, erosion challenges, power supply and education, is at a cost of N98.589 billion.
The projects, which got the anticipatory approval of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan before its presentation at the FEC meeting by the President, would be implemented between now and 2014.
The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, told State House correspondents after the FEC meeting on Wednesday that the contracts were awarded to show government’s commitment and determination to create a conducive environment for sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
Also awarded on Wednesday was a N1.99 billion contract for reader scanners for the National Examination Council.
The 80 image mark reader scanners will be used to mark the various examinations conducted by the NECO.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyat Rufai, said the scanner’s technology will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the operations of the examination body because it can mark 7,200 multiple choice questions scripts per hour.
Also approved is the execution of the Zungeru Hydro Power Project in Niger State, which will provide 700 MW of electricity.
The project is to be funded by the China EXIM Bank with N162.9 billion.
The FEC also approved that Nigeria should pay its counterpart funding of $3 million for the supply of family planning as well as infant/maternal drugs and materials from donor agencies.
As also earlier reported by The Eagle Online, several road projects were awarded by the FEC.
They included the Wude-Utai-Achika-Dake Road in Kano and Jigawa States; Kontagora-Rijau-Tunga-Mangaja Road in Niger State; Nenwe-Uduma-Uburu Road in Ebonyi/Enugu States; Auchi-Ekperi-Afuda-Usugani Road in Edo State; and Funtua-Gusua-Sokoto Road.