LEADERSHIP

FG Approves N9bn For Power, Education, Mining

August 21, 2008

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved various contracts covering power, education and mining in the sum of about N9 billion.

The country’s plan to shore up its gas potentials yesterday received a boost as FEC approved the next steps in the Gas Master Plan Investor Roadshow (GMPIR).

The government had on February 13 approved a National Gas Infrastructure Master Plan which entailed a short-term gas supply strategy, adoption of the gas blueprint and gradual migration of gas price for power generation to a commercial rate.

Briefing State House correspondents after the weekly meeting, the Minister of Information and Communication, Mr. John Odey, said yesterday’s approval followed road shows conducted in Abuja, Lagos and Singapore.

According to him the road shows had generated a lot of awareness globally and investment interests in the gas sector both within and outside the country.

The government, he therefore said was now ready for the investor selection process, investor pre-qualification and entity structure for the investment consortia.

On the government effort to boost power supply, Odey said the council also considered some memos which include the re-awarding of contract for erection works for 3 transmission line projects located in the North East and South South zones.

The projects which are to be completed within 15 months were earlier abandoned due to lack of adequate funding. The scope of the projects include the construction of property fence, drainage, cable trenches, sub- station road network, control building, generator house, staff quarters among other structural works.

According to Information and Communication Minister, provisions have been made in the 2008 budget for these projects. The construction of 2 units of 150mva/33kva substation at Yola and one unit of 330kva line bay station at Gombe was awarded to MBH Power Ltd for N1.2 billion.

The construction of 42km 132kva single circuit line and 5km approach to Akure 132kv/33kv substation 132kv double circuit was awarded to Dextron Engineering Ltd for N3.5 billion; while the construction of the 2nd Benin-Onitsha 330kv single circuit transmission lines was also awarded to it for N3 billion.

Also contract for the award of the construction of transformer bay and the refurbishment of a 330kv line bay at Onitsha sub-station and one 33kv line bay at Benin sub-station to Messr. MHB Power ltd at N467 million with a completion time of 25 months.

Contracts for the provision of circuit breakers were also awarded to Pimtek Nig Ltd at a cost of N106 million with a supply period of 18 months.

Other approvals granted yesterday include consultancy services for the completion of the National library in favour of Messrs. Odeleye International Associates at the cost of N232, 820,419.40 million.

FEC also approved award for contract for the completion of a senate building at the Gidan Kwano campus of the Federal University of Technology, Minna , Niger state to the tune of N215.28 million.

The contract has a completion period of 32 weeks.

The University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom state also received the attention of council as it approved the award of the contract for the construction of the Faculty of Sciences Building Block B at the sum of N348.1 million.

The contract which is divided into three parts, namely, building, mechanical and electrical installations, and laboratory furniture at the sum of N230.2 Million, N57.7 Million and N60.1 Million respectively with the first and second having completion periods of each, while the other has 6 months completion period.

Another contract brought by the Minister of Education, Dr. Aja-Nwachukwu which also received its approval was award for contract for the completion of the extension hall of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife to the tune of N106.1 million. It has a completion period of 24 weeks.

The project is located within the main campus of the university.

The Federal University of Technology, Owerri, did not escape the attention of the federal government as FEC, also approved the contract for the construction of General Studies Building (Phaze 1). The contract is valued at N61.7 million and has a completion period of 24 weeks. It is located at the permanent site of the university.

The FEC also approved contracts totaling N697.78 million for the reclamation of six abandoned mining sites across the country.

The sites are in Bukuru, Plateau State (N165.08m); Gwale, Kano State (N88.69m); Danboa, Borno State (N89.08m); Maiduguri, Borno state, (N107.42m); Alesi, Cross River State (N148.24m); and Enyimgba, Ebonyi State (N99.24m).