FEC okays N459b contracts for transportation ministry, NDLEA barrack

The Federal Government Council (FEC) on Wednesday authorized contract awards price about N459 billion for the Ministry of Transportation and building of barracks for personnel of the Nationwide Medication Legislation Enforcement Company (NDLEA).

That is simply because the federal authorities introduced the Port Harcourt will function the hub for the over 25,000 metric tones of wheat anticipated any second from Ukraine.

Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo disclosed this whereas briefing State Home Journalists, after the FEC assembly presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Minister defined that “ The Federal Ministry of Transportation this afternoon, offered to memoranda to council on behalf of two of its businesses

The contracts for the Nigerian Ports Authority is for the development and provide of personalized Hearth Service search and rescue vans for extrication of accident victims at the price of N510,934,600, and for the procurement of rollingstock operation and upkeep gear for Kano-Maradi normal gauge rail line at the price of $984,722,392.

“The primary company was the Nigerian Ports Authority which sought to offer for the award of contract for the development and provide of for personalized Hearth Service search and rescue vans for extrication of accident victims.

“For Rivers Ports, Port Harcourt, Lagos Port complicated, Tin Can Island Port and Marina headquarters, all in Lagos, Council thought of the memorandum and authorized the award of the contract as really helpful.

“And reviewed by the Bureau of Public Procurement within the sum of N510,934,600 million inclusive of seven and a half p.c VAT with a completion interval of 9 months in favor of Messrs All Works Industrial Firm Restricted.

“The second memorandum offered by the Ministry was on behalf of the ministry itself however for the final word administration by the Nigerian Railway Cooperation.

“The memorandum sought council, consideration and approval for the award of contract for the procurement of rollingstock operation and upkeep gear for Kano-Maradi normal gauge rail line that’s at the moment beneath building.

“The contract was awarded to Messers Motor Engine Nigeria Restricted who’re the contractors dealing with this specific tasks within the sum of $984,722,302.05 inclusive of seven and a half p.c verse with a completion interval of 4 years.”

The Lawyer Normal of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, mentioned FEC authorized the development of barracks for personnel of the NDLEA on the complete value of N5,157,265,770.

Learn additionally: NLC directs workers to protest at CBN branches

He famous that the contract was necessitated by the necessity to present them with safety due to the risk from medication criminals.

In response to Malami: “What was offered in the present day by the Workplace of the Lawyer Normal and Minister of Justice was a council memo on the occasion or the NDLEA – Nationwide Medication Legislation Enforcement Company.

“As you’re conscious, there was renewed and sustained onslaught in opposition to drug cartels and barons over time. Inside the three quarters of 2023 about 18,940 arrests had been affected by the NDLEA and certainly medication the estimated worth of which is over N40 billion the place confiscated.

“Once more, about 2,904 convictions had been recorded.

“These successes recorded sadly, translated to unprecedented threats and assaults on personnel, officers, males and different ranks of the company after which the necessity has arisen for the federal authorities to think about the potential for taking safety measures that may now present the specified safety to the officers and males of the company.

“So, with that in thoughts, what was offered earlier than the Federal Government Council in the present day is a memo in search of approval for the award of contract for the development of barracks lodging for personnel of the drug legislation enforcement company.

“Accordingly, two contracts had been awarded and the businesses that had been awarded the contract Whitchino Engineering Restricted, was awarded the contract for the development of lodging for narcotics superintendents and narcotic assistant blocks, every consisting six numbers of three bed room, semi indifferent flats, 12 flats, and 5 blocks every, consisting 16 primary bed room terraces plots, 80 plots complete 92 plots at the price of N2,267,785,450. 83.

“And the second contract was awarded to JP Sigma Nigeria restricted within the sum of N2,889,480,320.55 and they’re to assemble lodging for narcotics superintendents and narcotics brokers, two blocks every constant six numbers, three bed room, semi indifferent flats, 12 flats and 11 blocks, every consisting eight numbers two bedrooms, semi indifferent flats 89 flats complete 12 plus 88 which makes 100 flats. So, the Council memo was taken. And it was accordingly authorized by the Council.”

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Growth, Mohammed Abubakar, on his half, mentioned his Ministry offered a memo on the revised 2022 Nationwide Agricultural Seed Coverage.

He famous that the nation had been working on the 2010 coverage, which was revised in 2015 earlier than the newest revision in 2022.

In response to him, the revision turned crucial due to the necessity to have improved seeds.

He defined: “With the present steady improvement in know-how, seeds are at all times being upgraded, standardized 4 to 5 with a number of nutritional vitamins. There’s additionally the problem of genetically modified organisms or seeds, if you’ll.

“So, this revision, search to evolve with international finest observe in yield. Our farmers will need to have entry to highest quality seeds which were fortified, seeds that may produce the yield that shall be price their whereas, seeds that may produce once more, the produce that may compete on the planet market. That is the idea for this specific coverage.

“The implementing company is the Nationwide Agricultural Seed Council of Nigeria. The identical company works with the division throughout the Ministry, additionally work with different businesses and MDAs which are additionally concerned in some methods with agriculture, work with civil society group, worldwide businesses.

“Nigeria yearly holds summit that we name Seed Join. That is a world summit that discusses and focuses on enchancment improvement in seeds from across the globe. So, seeds are actually crucial, very vital. As you all know, the agric sector kind an awesome a part of the GDP of this nation and all that we concentrate on small holder farmers.

“Somebody will marvel how do they get good high quality seed? We wish to ensure that they’re precedence. We distribute good high quality seeds to them free. We make it possible for any seed that’s coming into the nation is also subjected to the decentralization.

“We now have a system that is named Codex, and we’ll ensure that all seeds that shall be taken to the market have these Codex. They’ve gone via our screening. And that is the aim of this coverage, to make higher seeds and to realize meals safety.

“Except have good yielding seeds, we won’t be able to realize the meals safety we would like and Nigeria with 200 million folks plus and counting. We’d like to ensure we’re on prime of our sport by way of the standard of seeds of any type of produce on this nation.”

Whereas the wheat from Ukraine is at the moment sea borne, talks between Russia and the Nigerian authorities on the importation of potassium continues to be ongoing, the Minister revealed whereas briefing State Home Correspondents.

In response to Mohammad, the ship carrying the wheat is predicted to berth in Portharcourt from the place it might be distributed throughout Nigeria and neigbouring African international locations.

He defined that Nigeria could change into a hub for accessing the wheat, particularly with strained relationship between Ukraine and Russia.

Requested why the nation is patronizing the 2 battle torn international locations, he maintained that Nigeria has a impartial coverage, therefore can do enterprise with any nation it deems crucial.

Past this, FEC deliberated on a memo on nationwide revised seed coverage, a transfer he mentioned was geared toward boosting agricultural productiveness within the nation.

He mentioned there have been plans to inject Genetically Modified Organism GMO seeds into the nationwide meals chain to supply sufficient meals to fulfill the teaming inhabitants progress.

Abubakar revealed that Port Harcourt has been chosen because the hub for the 25,000 metric tons on wheat anticipated from the Ukraine simply as Russia has additionally prolonged its provide of grains to the nation via the United Nations association.

He acknowledged that the wheat consignment from Ukraine was already on the excessive sea, he mentioned the hub would create financial actions within the space.