FEC approves N26bn for Works, Aviation and NDLEA

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved contracts worth N26.06 billion for the Ministries of Works and Housing, Aviation and Justice projects.

The council gave approval for emergency work and completion of Gadan Zaima-Zuru-Gamji Road in Kebbi State at a cost of N11.74 billion.

Briefing journalists at the end of the 14th virtual FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola said two approvals were given to ratify the emergency works undertaken on about seven kilometers on the road in  2019 at a cost of N1.14 billion and the award of the contract for the remaining 55 km at N10.58 billion.

“We did an emergency of seven kilometers out of 62 km and because it was emergency e need to come for ratification which was given and we now got approval to award the remaining 55 km so that we can complete the road,’’ he said.

On aviation projects, the Minister, Sen. Hadi Sirika, said contracts for the upgrade and refurbishment of the safe tower equipment in four airports in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt were awarded at a cost of  N13.1 billion.

“This is just to increase the efficiency of the airports and reduce the workload in the control tower and to automate what were hitherto analogue systems to digital.

“This is in two parts. First component which is a foreign component is twenty eight million, four hundred and eighty nine thousand, five hundred and sixty five (€28,489,565m). The naira component is N3.491,504,488.31. Of course, there will be 7.5% added VAT. It will be for completion period of 12 months.

“This has been approved as part of things that we do in Civil Aviation that passengers don’t see, that is our major work that we do, it is a terminal building or runway which you can see, these are the things that are out there in the bushes which contribute safety and security of our space,’’ he said.

Also briefing newsmen, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, said the acquisition of N1.2 billion property for the office accommodation of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was approved.

According to him, the property is located at Plot 1123-1129, Cadastral Zone 0607 at Aviation Village, Airport Road, Abuja, and it is acquired from Messsrs Chachangi Airlines Nigeria Ltd.

The Council also directed all ministries, department and agencies to use only Galaxy Backbone for the upgrade and digitization of ICT facilities.

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami,

said:“There is need to upgrade and be more alive to digital transformation in our activities. We have seen how COVID-19 -19 pandemic brought about the need to be conducting activities virtually and today we have attended the 14 virtual executive council meeting and this is unprecedented. We have been pushed by necessity to virtual activities.

“It is because of these that Galaxy backbone limited has deployed  ICT infrastructure in federal public institutions like State House here where we have 1,500 land points that is local area network (LAN) points, Federal Secretariat phase one  2,750 land points, federal secretariat phase 2 , 4,896 and SGF office 1,176 local areas and network and Mabushi where Minister of Works and Housing resides, they have about 800 local area network points.

“Most of the facilities being used were deployed 10, 11 and 12 years ago. The most recent facilities in most of the places are the ones deployed eight years ago and the validity of these facilities is usually five years maximum.

“Now we have some that are up to 11, 12 years, There is a need for these facilities to be upgraded because, we are going virtual almost every day and only Almighty God knows when this COVID-19 pandemic will leave us. However, we are optimistic and prayerful as well, it is because of these Mr. President has directed that we should conduct an audit assessment of all the federal public institutions and the need to upgrade their facilities.

“We have done that and the report has been presented before the council being chaired by our boss, Mr President. And secondly, Galaxy Backbone was established to be providing digital services to all public institutions and with the presentation and prayer contained in the memo, federal government has redirected that all federal public institutions should always contact Galaxy Backbone as their first point of call whenever they have any IT project to be executed there.

“Most importantly, our presentation here is about upgrading our ICT infrastructure and secondly directing institutions to patronize Galaxy and thirdly to show to us the commitment of the federal government towards promotion of our government digital services and this is in summary of what the memo is all about.”