News

FEC Approves N5.7bn For Water, Agric Projects

Published

3 years ago

Dec 23, 2021.

FEC has approved 5.7bn for water and agric projects.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a total of N5.7bn for contracts in the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources.

This was revealed to State House Correspondents on Wednesday after the week’s virtual FEC meeting presided over by the President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Minister of Water Resources, Sulaiman Adamu, while speaking at the briefing said his ministry obtained approval for the execution of two water projects in Gashua, Yobe State.

He said the projects became expedient because of a detected rise in kidney diseases and kidney failure among people living in Gashua in the last few years.

He stated further that both water projects were approved at the sum of N3.51bn, adding that while one is to extend water supply service to Zango and Sabongeri Lamido, the other project is for an upgrade of existing waterworks.

“Council today approved a memo for the execution of two contracts for Gashua Water Supply Project (phase 2) in Yobe State, (Lot A) is the sum of N1.27bn and Lot B is the sum of N2.24bn.

“Essentially, one lot is for extension of the water supply service to Zango and Sabongeri Lamido, comprising of battery, boreholes, submersible pump, solar panels and so on and the other contract is for the upgrading of the existing waterworks, which also includes rehabilitation of some elevated tanks, provision of potable water treatment plants and a host of other ancillary facilities.

“The contract is for 18 months and essentially, this contract was awarded to address the acute water supply situation in Gashua, which is well within the Sahelian region and also because in recent years there has been some prevalence of kidney diseases and kidney failures and a quick intervention were required so that we’ll be able to address this situation.

“In the interim, the National Water Resources Institute under my ministry is conducting an investigation as to why this high prevalence of kidney disease in the area. So, Council graciously approved these two contracts”, he said.

Also addressing correspondents, Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Shehuri, said Council approved two memoranda for his ministry.

“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development today presented two memos to the Federal Executive Council.

“First is a memo seeking the approval of an award of contract to Agriculture Research Institute and agencies and two certified companies for the production and distribution of seeds and seedlings to farmers.

“The second memo is for the approval of the award of contract for the purchase of 1,014 of soil test kits and soil analytical laboratory equipment to National Institute of Soil Science at the cost of N278,858,163.

“The first memo is the cost of N2.16bn. This memo is, as I said, seeking Council’s approval for our research institutes to produce seeds for farmers for next year’s farming season,” he said.

Click below to watch our video of the week: