.N49bn for Enugu-Anambra link road
.N18.544bn for renovation of Customs auditorium, others
The Federal Ministry of Works has secured the Federal Government’s permission to fix potholes on Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, for the sum of N6.3 billion.
The contract is one of the two contracts granted approvals to the ministry at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC), said Works Minister, Babatunde Fashola.
A revised sum of N49 billion was also approved for the old Enugu-Onitsha Road project.
Mr Fashola briefed State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“We presented two memoranda to the council; both were approved; the first is with regards to contract cost revision by way of augmentation for the old Enugu-Onitsha road from Opi junction all the way to Udi-Oji to Anambra border in Enugu State,” the minister told reporters.
“The augmentation was in the sum of N17 billion, which revised the contract sum to N49 billion with an additional completion time of 42 months.”
The minister said the second contract was a fresh contract for the maintenance of the pavement of the third mainland bridge that would address public concerns about potholes on the bridge.
“And this was approved in the sum of N6.3 billion for a period of 24 months.
“This contract responds to the questions on potholes that have become manifest on the entire pavement of the deck of the bridge spanning 11 kilometres and the interchanges—Adeniji Adele, Adekunle and Gbagada ramps that all link the bridge; this is for the resurfacing of all that.
“Those who are familiar with the bridge will recall that all of these failures were not this manifest on the bridge as at the time we did some work; and the work that we did concentrated largely on the sub-structure of the bridge—the piles, the underwater piles; the pile caps and also the replacement of the expansion joints and the bearings.”
Mr Fashola said the maintenance works are critical to the bridge’s structural integrity and would restore the driving surface and the aesthetics.
“Some of the rails that have been stolen; some of the planes that have misaligned at the ramps that lead you on and off the bridge, so, this is the work that is being done now; so all the experience, avoiding potholes on the bridge; this project will tackle that,” he said.
This contract responds to the questions on potholes that have become manifest on the entire pavement of the deck of the bridge spanning 11 kilometres and the interchanges—Adeniji Adele, Adekunle and Gbagada ramps that all link the bridge; this is for the resurfacing of all that.
Customs auditorium
Similarly, the FEC also approved N18.544 billion for the renovation of Customs auditorium, and purchase of operational vehicles.
Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, said the Council ratified some renovation works at the Nigerian Customs Service headquarters, including the procurement of some specialised operational vehicles.
The Minister, who put the cost approvals at over N18.544billion, said the first memo deliberated on by the FEC was on the provision of additional seats in the auditorium at the customs headquarters to increase the sitting capacity, to allow the facility to accommodate larger events, seminars and meetings.
He listed the items to be procured and installed as audio-visual system, conference hall, finishing, ground, provision and installation of acoustic panelling, doors for the auditorium, partitioning and doors.
“Inclusive of this is additional seats at the auditorium, at the total cost of N1,257,612,549.76. This is inclusive of 7.5% VAT”.
Agba went further to explain that the other two memos had to do with the provision of operational vehicles for the Customs.
He said one was for 177 vehicles; including Toyota Coaster, Toyota Hiace (mid-roof), Toyota Land Cruiser Buffalo, at a total cost of N9,378,829,942.75, for this set of 177 vehicles.
“Again we had a set of 160 vehicles. These are Toyota Hiluxes and also Toyota Land Cruiser Buffalo, that’s 160 vehicles at a total sum of N7,908,354,685.75 inclusive of 7.5% VAT.
“This is just to help to protect the personnel, motivate them and to allow them to do their job efficiently, especially across very difficult terrains,” he stated. (NAN, Agency reports)
