FEC approves $984.7m for maintenance of NRC equipment

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved $984.7 million for the procurement of maintenance equipment for the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).

The FEC also approved N5 billion to provide accommodation for staff of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The Minister of Transport, Mu’azu Sambo, and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, disclosed this while briefing State House journalists at the end of the weekly council meeting.

The meeting was chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to Mr. Sambo, the NRC equipment is specifically for the Kano-Maradi railway line that connects Nigeria and neighboring Niger Republic.

He said: “A memorandum issued by the Ministry on behalf of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

“The memorandum sought the council’s consideration and approval for the award of a contract for the procurement of rolling stock operation and maintenance equipment for the Kano-Maradi standard gauge rail line currently under construction.

“The contract was awarded to a company that is also the contractor handling the railway project for the amount of $984,722,302.05 including 7.5 percent VAT with a completion period of four years.”

He also announced that the council approved over N510 million for the provision of dedicated Fire Service Vehicles to the Nigerian Ports Authority.

“The Federal Ministry of Transport also presented a memo to the council for both agencies.

“The first agency is the Nigerian Ports Authority which sought to provide the contract award for the construction.

“And provide four dedicated Fire Service search and rescue vans to remove accident victims for River Port, Port Harcourt, Lagos Port Complex, Tin Can Island Port and Marina Headquarters all in Lagos.

“The council considered the memorandum and approved the award of the contract as recommended and reviewed by the Bureau of Public Procurement for the sum of N510, 934,600 million inclusive of 7.5 percent VAT with a completion period of nine months,” he said.

On his part, Mr. Malami said the Council approved N5 billion for the construction of residential accommodation for officers and men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

According to the minister, this is necessary because to better secure the life and property of the personnel of the agency, which has been very successful in the fight against drug cartels and barons.

He said: “As you know, there is a new and continuous attack by the NDLEA against drug cartels and barons. In the three quarters of 2023, about 18, 940 arrests were made under the influence of the NDLEA and indeed drugs which are estimated to be more than N40 billion was confiscated.

“The success recorded unfortunately translated into unprecedented threats and attacks on personnel; officers, men and other ranks of the agency.

“Accordingly, the Nigerian government should consider the possibility of taking security measures that will now provide the desired protection to NDLEA officials and people.”

He further said that the council gave approval to build two categories of barracks with a total of 192 flats.

“Thus, two contracts were awarded to two different contractors. The first is for the construction of barracks with a total of 92 three-room semi-detached flat units for Narcotics Supervisors and Assistant Narcotics Supervisors at a cost of N2, 267, 785, 450.83.

“The second contract is in the sum of N2, 889, 480, 320. 55 for the construction of barracks consisting of a total of 100 units of two and three bedroom semi-detached apartments for Narcotics Superintendents and Narcotics Agents,” he said.

(IN)