FEC okays N41.873b for Third Mainland Bridge repairs, Enugu-Anambra road

•337 vehicles approved for Customs

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved various contracts totalling N41,872,860,761 for roads under the Ministry Works and Housing as well as equipment for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

The Ministry of Works and Housing got N23,328,063,585 for the two memoranda it presented: augmentation for a road between Enugu and Anambra states, and repairs on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

Addressing correspondents at the end of the council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola explained that the work on the Third Mainland Bridge, which he said would cost N6.28 billion, would entail fixing surface failings that have become glaring but were not there when the last repairs were done on the bridge.

“The first memo was with regard to a contract cost revision by way of augmentation for the old Enugu/Onitsha Road – from Okpi Junction all the way to Udioji to Anambra boundary in Enugu State. The augmentation was N17,050,000,000, which revised the contract to N48,996,488,925 with an additional completion time of 42 months.

“The second was a fresh contract for the maintenance of the pavement of the Third Mainland Bridge. This was approved at N6,278,063,585.58 for a period of 24 months. This is in consonance with the Executive Order 11 signed by Mr. President for the continued maintenance of public infrastructure.

“We did some work on the Third Mainland Bridge before… This contract is in response to the potholes that have become manifest on the entire pavement of the deck of the bridge, spanning 11 kilometres and the interchanges at Adeniji Adele, Adekunle, and Gbagada ramps that link the bridge. This is for the resurfacing and all of that…

“These are maintenance works that are critical to the structural integrity of the bridge. What we’re dealing with now is different. It is the driving surface and the aesthetics: some of the rails that have been stolen, some of the planes that are misaligned at ramps that lead you on and off the bridge. So, this is the work that is being done now.”

Also, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, announced that the FEC approved three memoranda totalling N18,544,797,176 for works and purchase of operational vehicles for the NCS.

He said: “The first one had to do with the provision of additional seats in the auditorium at the Customs headquarters in order to increase the sitting capacity so that it can be used for large events, seminars and meetings.

“The makeup of these items is provision and installation of audiovisual system, conference hall, finishing, provision and installation of acoustic paneling and door for the auditorium, and then partitioning and doors. Inclusive of this is additional seats at the auditorium at a total cost of N1,257,612,549.76, inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT.

“The other two memos had to do with provision of operational vehicles for Customs. One was for 177 vehicles; these are: Toyota Coaster, Toyota Hiace (mid-roof), Toyota Land Cruiser Buffalo, totalling N9,378,829,942.75 for this set of 177 vehicles.

“For the other one, we had a set 160 vehicles. These are: Toyota Hiluxes and Toyota Land Cruiser Buffalo. That’s 160 vehicles at a total sum of N7,908,354,685.75, inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT,” he said.

Mines and Steel Development Minister Olamilekan Adegbite said council approved the Metallurgical Bill 2023, which he said is like the other half of the Nigerian Mineral and Mining Policy 2023, which the FEC approved last week.