FG approves over N100b for water, road projects

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved contracts totalling N100,234,252,930.53‎‎ for some road projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Niger Delta region as well as provision of potable water for some parts of Kwara state‎.

Supervising Minister of Information, Nurudeen Mohammed, briefed the State House correspondents on the decision of council alongside the Ministers of FCT, Bala Mohammed; Niger Delta Affairs, Stephen Oru; and Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, said the Council was first briefed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on the introduction of commemorative N100 banknotes to celebrate Nigeria’s Centenary.

On the contract awards, FCT Minister explained that an ‎upward review of contract for provision of engineering infrastructure at Wuye District to the tune of ‎N3.4 billion was approved by the cabinet.

This ‎ups the total contract sum from N39.6 billion to N43.12 billion, and will now include additional arterial ring roads and pedestrian bridge.

Another contract of N7.1 billion‎ was approved for the FCT Administration to construct additional roads along the Inner Northern Expressway (INEX) that serves the ‎Abuja Industrial Park in Karmo District.

Bala said‎ for completion of the Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX), the Council approved a contract of N43 billion. He said this will help decongest vehicular traffic within the city centre and provide an alternative route to the Abuja airport.

The minister of FCT  said he presented a memo for the award of contract for the construction of one service carriageway (14km) of inner Northern Expressway (INEX) from ring road 111 to ring road IV Abuja Industrial Park in favour of Messrs Salini Nig Ltd, in the sum of N7,179,322,294.15 with a completion period of 24months.

The INEX is one of the key planned expressways provided in the Abuja master plan connecting to the ring roads from the central area through phases I,II, III and IV, terminating at the outer Northern Expressway (ONEX). The road is being undertaken in phases with the right hand service carriage way already developed between the ring road II and ring road III bounding Karimo district.

According to him, ‎Council approved another award  of contract for the provision of access road and engineering infrastructure to plot 1458 and adjoining plots around Hot FM in Gudu District in the sum of N1,794,778,172.88 in favour of Messers Sageto Limited with a completion period of 17months.

Council further approved the award of contract for the extension of Inner Southern Expressway from Southern Parkway (58/59) to ring Road II in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in favour of Messers CGC Nig Ltd in the sum of N43,458,849,973.94 with a completion period of 30 months.‎ ‎ The FCT Minister presented another memo seeking for the upward review of the contract sum for the provision of engineering infrastructure of Wuye District.

He informed council that the purpose of the memorandum is to seek council’s approval for the upward review of the contract sum for the provision of engineering infrastructure at Wuye district in favour of Mess’sArab Contractors (O.A.O) Nigeria Ltd, in the sum of N3,431,290,231.20 (Three Billion, Four Hundred and Thirty One Million, Two Hundred and Thirty One Naira  Twenty Kobo Only) thereby revising the contract sum from N39, 681,137,736,46 to N43,112,427,967.67 to accommodate the construction of a flyover bridge at Wuye District , the interaction of of Arterial Road N1/Ring Road 1 being Nnamdi Azimiwe Road, as additional work to the contract with an additional completion period of 20 months.

Council deliberated extensively, particularly on the history of the project which was first awarded in August 2009 and expressed satisfaction with the 67% level of completion reached and the significance of the additional works proposed and approved the memo.‎

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs speaking on the approval for his ministry disclosed that N43 billion was approved for construction of a 15km section of the East-West Road.

Oru ‎explained that the sum is high because that particular section of the road will be ‘macadamised’; that is strengthened and reinforced taking into consideration the peculiar terrain of the region.‎

“Council also approved the award of contract for the upgrading of the 15KM of the East-West Road Section III: Port Harcourt (Eleme Junction) to Onne Port Junction Road in Rivers State in favour of Messers Reynolds Construction Company in the sum of N43,869,381,730.23 with a completion period of 18 months.

“Council noted that when the original contract for the dualisation of the East West Road Section III (Port Harcourt to Eket) was awarded in 2006, the 15KM section between Port Harcourt and Onne Port Junction which was dualisms in 1999, was in fair condition and was therefore not included in the major reconstruction. This critical road also gives access to the strategic Onne Tree Trade Zone where 15 companies erase with a total investment worth $6billion USD. The overall cost of the project was also extensively deliberated with six bridges, anticipated axial load and the pavement section and approved the memorandum,” he said.

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Meanwhile, the Minister of Water Resources Ochakpe said Council approved  revising the ‎contract sum for provision of potable water supply in some parts of Kwara state, from N903 million to N‎1.02 billion.‎ ‎ “Council approved a memo for the award of contract from the minister of Water Resources for the revised estimated total cost of the contract for the construction and upgrading of the Molete Water Works in Kwara State in Favour of Messers Turning Point Engineearing limited in the sum of N117,483,450, to bring the total cost of the project from the initial contract sum of N903,669,651.29 to a revised total cost of N1,021,153,101.29 with an extended completion period of 3 months.‎

“Council also approved contracts for the completion of Abuja’s ‎Millennium Towers & Cultural Centre.

“Council approved the award of contract for consultancy services for the construction of Nigeria's Cultural Centre and Millennium tower project in Abuja in favour of Messers Sal Consults in the sum of N383, 147,078.13. The consultants are to review the designs, monitor the project and offer full quantity surveying.

“Council noted that an anticipatory approval was granted by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006  for this consultancy services and there has been several due processes, procedures and negotiations over these years involving the BPP FCTA and the Consultants,” she explained.