FEC approves N36.4bn contract for bridge, customs patrol boats

Posted by admin Latest Politics Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

THE Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday, approved the award of contracts for the construction of a bridge across the River Benue at Oju/Loko-Oweto and purchase of anti-smuggling boats for the Nigerian Customs at a total cost of N36,388,910,405.94.

The council also resolved to ban the award of contracts which did not have complete designs as well as articulated financing plan that could prevent them from becoming abandoned projects.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, flanked by the Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Lawal Ngama and the Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, told State House correspondents at the end of the council meeting that the bridge was a major link between the North-Central, the South-East and the South-South states and would reduce travel time between Abuja and these areas to between three to four hours.

He explained that when completed, the road would reduce the heavy traffic on the Abuja-Lokoja road, noting that the contract, which was awarded to Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), had a completion period of 48 months.

Maku said that the two A30 Sea Princess boats approved for the Nigerian Customs were necessary to help them to combat smuggling and effectively patrol the waterways.

-Tribunewp_posts