FG okays N98bn for infrastructure in 9 oil producing states

Abuja – The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved N98.588 billion for 28 infrastructural development projects in nine oil producing states in the country.

The states include Rivers, Cross-River, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Imo and Abia.

Minister of Information Labara Maku disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of the Council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Maku said the approval was sequel to a memorandum presented to council by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)

“Today the Commission brought to Council a memorandum seeking to carry out 28 projects in the oil producing States.

“These projects caught across road construction, bridges land reclamation erosion problem as well as in some instances power supply and education.

“Mainly what the Commission has done is to bring these projects which they will implement between now and 2014.’’

The information minister said the contracts were approved in line with the Federal Government’s determination to create a conducive environment for sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.

Maku said the Council also approved a N317.922 billion contract for the completion of the Shagari irrigation project in Sokoto State.

He said the project was awarded in 2007 but could not be completed due to lack of funds.

Also speaking, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, said when completed in the next six months, the project would cover 220 hectares of land for irrigation.

She said that the project would have the capacity to produce 1,540 tonnes of rice and 3,300 tonnes of vegetables, with at least 2,640 persons engaged.

The council also approved contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of five roads across the North-West, South-South, South-East and North-Central geo-political zones of the country.

The Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, who disclosed this at the briefing, said that with the onset of the dry season, government was prepared to deploy resources and energy toward the provision of roads.

He said Council also approved contract for the construction of the Wudil-Utai-Achika-Darki-Jigaware road in Kano and Jigawa States at N4.393 billion with a completion period of 24 months.

The minister said contract for the reconstruction of section 2 phase 1 of the Kotangora-Rijau-Tunga Magajia road in Niger State at the cost of N3.698 billion was also approved.

He said Council also approved contract for the completion of the Auchi Poly-Ekperi-Uzea-Ohe-Afuda road in Edo State with the construction of pedestrian bridge at the Auchi Polytechnic main-gate.

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FG okays N98bn for infrastructure in 9 oil producing states