FG awards N10bn contracts

Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday awarded contracts worth N10 billion for infrastructural development.
Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili said this yesterday while briefing State House correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo. Minister of
State, Information and Communications Labaran Maku was present at the briefing.
Contracts approved by the council include the supply of heavy equipment including one wheel loader, landfill compactor and a Skid Street Leader CAT- for waste management in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the sum of N186, 514,650.00 and one D7R Series 11 track type bulldozer and two Pay-loaders in the sums of N118, 950,000.00 and N149, 480,000.00 respectively, with delivery period of 14 weeks.
Akunyili said FEC approved contract for the supply of one 36.30M Demersal and Pelagic Deep Sea Oceanographic and Fisheries Research and Fishing Combination Vessel for the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIMOR) in the sum of 8,070,000.00 Euros, with the completion period of 15 months.
�Council also approved the supply of two Marine Tug Boats (types 1 and 2), in the revised contract sum of Euros14, 770,039.88 plus $710, 742.13, and N398, 784,566.08 with a completion period of 12 months. Also approved by Council was the supply of Mercedes Benz fire fighting trucks with aerial platform, in the revised contract sum of Euros 1,147,500.00 plus N29, 767,500.00, and is expected to be completed within the period of 20 weeks,� she said.
She said Council approved N1,956,593,550.89 for the completion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs new headquarters complex in Central Business District, Abuja in favour of Messrs Bulet International (Nigeria) Limited.
�Transport Minister Yusuf Sulaiman also sought Council�s approval for the revalidation of six projects of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and FEC after deliberation, approved the supply of six fire engines (Mercedes Benz) with foam tenders in the revised contract sum of 2,721,032.15 plus N70, 586,775.00, with the completion period of 48 weeks and six Land Rover fire tenders in the revised contract sum of 844,368.75 Euro plus N21, 903,918.75, with the completion period of 20 weeks.
�There is provision of the sum of N500 million in the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIMOR) 2010 capital budget appropriation to serve as first installment payment for the procurement of the research or fishing vassal. Another N500 million transferred to the sub-treasurer of the Federations retention fees with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), from the institute�s 2009 capital budget which would be used to fund the remaining part of the contract�
The contracts announced yesterday by the minister include the importation of 60,000 units of 240 litres of dustbins in the sum of N927.6 million for the FCT. It was awarded to Messrs Pentagon Group of Companies Limited, with a delivery period of 12 weeks.
Akunyili said the heavy duty articulated vehicles will assist the FCT in responding quickly to disaster issues.
�Recently there was the case of collapsed building in the FCT and we discovered that we could not evacuate the area as quickly as we should. This articulated equipment will enable us respond as quickly as it is done in other parts of the world� he said.