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Tag: FEC

  • FEC observes minute silence as Tinubu swears in 3 new Ministers

    FEC observes minute silence as Tinubu swears in 3 new Ministers

    President Bola Tinubu on Monday swore in three new ministers during the second Federal Executive Council held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The new cabinet members are Malam Balarabe Lawal from Kaduna State as Minister of Environment, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim from Kwara, Minister of Youths and Ayodele Olawande from Ondo, Minister of State for Youths.

    The ministers were the three nominated by Tinubu to take charge of the newly created ministry of Youths and a replacement for former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai.

    The Ministry of Youth was formerly with the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.

    El-Rufai was rejected during the Senate ministerial screening process when a member brought up a petition against him.

    Tinubu, who is chairing the FEC meeting, took their oath of office and allegiance and took photographs with the new cabinet members.

    The council also observed a minute silence for a former member of cabinet, Late Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, former minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

    Ajose-Adeogun, who died on July 1 at the age of 96, was appointed the FCT Minister in 1976 by the Murtala Mohammed military administration and served in the position until 1979.

    The inaugural meeting was held in August were new ministers attended to take their first brief from the executive arm on their roles and responsibilities in the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    The FEC is a constitutional institution where government policies are discussed and endorsed by Ministers, with the President serving as the Chairman and the Vice President as the Vice Chairman.

    At the Aug. 29 FEC meeting, Tinubu unveiled eight-point agenda to revive the country’s ailing economy.

    He had said that the eight-point agenda was based on eight priority areas, with identified targets that would be delivered in the next three years.

    These are food security; ending poverty, economic growth and job creation, access to capital, particularly consumer credit, inclusivity in all its dimensions, particularly as regards youths and women, improving security, improving the playing field on which people and particularly companies operate, rule of law, and of course, fighting corruption.

  • President Tinubu presides over first FEC meeting at the villa

    President Tinubu presides over first FEC meeting at the villa

    President Bola Tinubu on Monday chaired the inaugural meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting, which commenced some minutes after noon on Monday, is attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan.

    Other political dignitaries who attended were the Chief of State to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the new ministers, as well as other top government functionaries.

    The council’s role, as written in the Ministers’ Statutory Powers and Duties Act, is to serve as an advisory body to the President, who serves as the FEC’s chairman.

    The FEC has a constitutional role in advising the President to determine the direction of government, although the President is the ultimate executive decision-maker.

    The FEC is the cabinet of the federal government and is part of the executive branch with the role to serve as an advisory body to the President, who serves as its chairman.

  • What President Buhari said in valedictory FEC meeting

    What President Buhari said in valedictory FEC meeting

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja participated in a valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and met with staff of the State House.

    The president’s engagement was part of a countdown on his eight years of administration, expressing appreciation for all the support and loyalty of the cabinet members and the staff.

    In his remark at the valedictory session held at the State House Council Chamber, Buhari thanked all the ministers for their steadfastness in pursuing the goals of the administration.

    The president however urged support for the incoming President, Sen. Bola Tinubu, even from outside government.

    Buhari appreciated the ministers for working closely together, despite many odds and challenges, and sustaining the synergy that translated into many achievements.

    “I am proud to say we gave our best,’’ he added.

    The president directed the ministers to tidy up their work and avoid last-minute rush that could compromise the good deeds they had done over the years.

    “In the cause of our years together, ranging from our newest addition to the oldest members of the team for the past seven and half years, we have differed on many issues.

    ”I urge that we understand that those positions were for the collective good, and no one should keep grievances, or carry these differences forward.

    “For those of us that will not directly be in government, I know that I am one of such, I ask that we continue to provide our support, in whatever way we can, if called upon by our great party, All Progressives Congress (APC), that gave us the platform to stand and we must continue to support it in every way we can,’’ he said.

    The president attributed all the good work and goodwill received by the administration to God’s intervention, adding: “I also thank God for the strength and for keeping us together.’’

    “I look forward to a  great many of you, disproving that Daura has not become too distant because I am no longer Mr President.

    “I will also be happy to do the many things that I have not been able to since May 29, 2015, one of such is my favourite pastime of taking care of my cattle.

    “I wish all of us the best and hope to hear good news whenever any of our names are mentioned. Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ he stated.

    Buhari also met with members of Staff of the State House, lauding both the senior and junior workers for supporting his administration for eight years.

    He noted that the administration had stretched to accommodate the views of workers and to meet some of their needs within available resources.

  • Few days to go: Buhari presides over FEC meeting, to consider 60 memos

    Few days to go: Buhari presides over FEC meeting, to consider 60 memos

    President Muhammadu Buhari is presiding over the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.

    Buhari, on Tuesday, returned from a two-week vacation to the United Kingdom.

    This meeting is a precursor to the forthcoming valedictory session for cabinet members next week.
    The Council, as learnt, will deliberate on approximately 60 memos, as the administration rapidly approaches the end of its tenure.

    In attendance are the Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; and the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd).

  • FG approves 37 new universities

    FG approves 37 new universities

    Few days to the expiration of the present administration the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has approved the licensing of 37 new universities in the country.

    Adamu Adamu, Nigeria’s minister of Education made this known after the extra-ordinary Council meeting on Monday.

    Accordibg to him, the licensing of 37 new universities will bring the total to 72 universities that the Buhari government would have approved in his eight years of administering the country.

    He failed to name the universities, but revealed that one of them is an online university, the first of its kind in Nigeria, and owned by a woman from Bauchi State, with expectation that it will cater for the likes of northern Muslim women who feel reluctant or are restrained from attending physical campus education.

    Fielding questions on the expediency of additional universities given funding challenges of the existing ones, Adamu explained that these ones are all private, with enough funds to run them and they should not be denied the opportunity to exist.

    The Minister further explained that Nigeria actually needs more universities as the available ones are not adequate to take up all those yearning for higher education.

  • What we are doing to reduce the cost of rice – Agric Minister

    What we are doing to reduce the cost of rice – Agric Minister

    The federal government is making efforts to reduce the cost of rice, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Abubakar has said.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Abubakar disclosed this after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The Minister disclosed that efforts had been intensified by the government to ensure the availability of the commodity with a view to bringing down its price since Nigeria was the number one producer of rice in Africa.

    “There are 10 rice mills that are being constructed under a Public Private Partnership arrangement and the President has given us intervention to complete those mills. We will commission some of them before the end of this administration,” he said.

    Abubakar also disclosed that the Council approved N6 billion for the construction of new corporate headquarters for the ministry.

    According to him, the proposed headquarters will be a 10-storey building and will be named,  Agriculture House.

    ”The memo we presented was for the construction of our corporate headquarters here in Abuja. Since the relocation of the ministry to Abuja over 30 years ago, we’ve not had a corporate headquarters.

    ”We are currently using an office of the Federal Capital Territory Administration which is just About three floors and cannot accommodate the entire ministry.

    ”We have about four departments which are outside the main ministry. So, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has allocated a plot to us in the cadastral zone, totalling about 1.84 hectares at a very strategic place for the construction of a 10-storey building which we will call Agriculture House,” he said

    He said they had purchased a building in Abuja some years back but it later turned out not to be adequate for the services required thus, it would be sold and the proceeds would be added to a budgetary provisions (2022 and 2023) of the sum of N6 billion to commence the project.

    According to the minister, the ministry will source for more funds through intervention from the presidency and other sources, to complete the project.

  • President Buhari swears in 6 permanent secretaries

    President Buhari swears in 6 permanent secretaries

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja swore in six new permanent secretaries, before presiding over the meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the Council Chamber of State House.

    The President administered the oaths of office to Mahmud Kambari, Nko Esuabana, Adamu Lamuwa, Yakubu Kofarmata, Olufemi Oloruntola and Richard Pheelangwah as permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.

    Since the inception of the administration on May 29, 2015, President Buhari has sworn-in 92 federal permanent secretaries.

    A brief citation on Kambari, states that he was born on September 22, 1967 in Kambari, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

    He attended Tudun Wada Primary School, Potiskum, Yobe State and proceeded to Government Day Secondary School, Potiskum, where he obtained his General Certificate of Education in 1985.

    He holds a BSC in Accountancy from the University of Maiduguri, and an MBA in Finance from the same university.

    He joined Borno Radio Television Corporation in 1992 as an Accountant and rose through the ranks in the Borno Civil Service to become Chief Accountant at Borno State Pensions Board, from 2003 to 2006.

    During his service, he won the award of “The Best Accountant in the State for The Year 2002” signed by the Executive Governor.

    In the year 2006, he transferred his service to the Federal Civil Service as an Assistant Chief Accountant and rose through the ranks to the position of a Director in 2018.

    He is a Fellow of Certified National Accountant (FCNA), Fellow, Institute of Industrial and Corporate Administrators of Nigeria (FICA) and Fellow Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC).

    Similarly, Esuabana, who was born on March 31, 1968 in Asang Eniong, Cross River State, attended Offot Jubilee Primary School and Cornelia Connelly College in the State.

    She holds a BA in African Studies from the University of Port Harcourt and Master’s Degree in Visual Arts from the University of Ibadan.

    Mrs Esuabana also attended Maastricht School of Management, University of Maastricht in The Netherlands.

    She started her Civil Service career with the Ministry of Mines and Steel in 1996 and has since worked in different capacities across the Federal Civil Service, with staff welfare and capacity development at the core of her staff engagement.

    Ambassador Lamuwa, who was born on March 15, 1967, in Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe State, attended Government Secondary School, Nafada, Gombe State.

    He holds a BSC in Economics from the University of Maiduguri and a Master’s Degree in Economic Policy and Management from the United Nations Institute for African Economic Development and Planning (UN-IDEP), Dakar, Senegal.

    Ambassador Lamuwa started his career as a Foreign Service Officer in January 1993 and has served in various departments of the Ministry at its Headquarters  including; Trade and Investment Division, Training and Staff Welfare Division, African Affairs Division, Planning, Research and Statistics Department and Second United Nations Division (SUND).

    Similarly, he has served in the Consulate General of Nigeria in Hong Kong, Nigerian High Commission, Ottawa, Canada, as well as the Consulate General of Nigeria in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    He also worked in various capacities in the State House, Presidential Villa, as Special Assistant to the Principal Secretary to the President in 2009 and as Deputy Director, State House Protocol.

    From June 2016 to May 2021, Ambassador Lamuwa was Charge d’ Affaires (et) at the Nigerian Embassy in Damascus, Syria.

    From there, he was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Senegal with concurrent accreditation to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania from where he sat for, passed the examination and got appointed as a Permanent Secretary.

    He has received various letters of commendation from two former Chiefs of Staff to the President, late Abba Kyari and Chief Mike Oghiadomhe as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama, attesting to Amb. Lamuwa’s “outstanding accomplishment as well as his enviable and unblemished record in the service of Nigeria.”

    Dr Adam Kofarmata, who was born on March 15, 1966 in the Municipal Local Government Area of Kano State, attended Kofar Nasarawa Primary School in 1979 and proceeded to Rumfa College Kano where he obtained the General Certificate in Education (GCE) in 1984.

    Yakubu holds a Ph.D in International Relations from the University of Abuja, Masters Degrees in Banking and Finance as well as International Affairs and Diplomacy from Bayero University Kano and Ahmadu Bello University respectively, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Bayero University, Kano.

    Dr. Kofarmata started work in 1990 with the defunct Allied Bank of Nigeria Plc. in Yola as Officer Trainee and later joined the then Commerce Bank of Nigeria for four years.

    He voluntarily left the banking sector for the Federal Civil Service where he started his career as a Senior Administrative Officer in 1996.

    In the course of the career, he has served in various capacities in different Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), rising to the position of Director in 2018.

    Oloruntola, who hails from Fowoseje, Imobi-Ijebu, Ogun State, was born in Ebute-Meta, Lagos on February 6, 1967.

    He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and Regional Planning from the then Ogun State University, Ago Iwoye and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Ibadan.

    Mr Oloruntola joined the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in December 1990 as Town Planning Officer I.

    He worked on several Multilateral Urban Infrastructural and Development Projects of the Ministry in States across all the geo-political zones of the country between 1990 and 2010. He is a registered Town Planner. In 1997 he was awarded the Ministry’s Certificate of Merit.

    Mr Oloruntola was a Deputy Director in the Procurement Department of the Federal Ministry of Environment from 2010-2015. He was the Procurement Specialist of the Federal Project Coordinating Unit (FPCU) on the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

    The Town Planner, who until his appointment was Director of Housing and Urban Development, is a recipient of the Federal Civil Service Presidential Merit Award 2019.

    Pheelangwah, who was born on April 21, 1967 in Jen, Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, attended Ahmadu Bello University Zaria where he graduated with a Bachelor and Master of Arts Degrees in English Language.

    He started his career in the Federal Civil Service in April 1996 as an Administrative Officer I in the Ministry of Solid Minerals. He has also worked in the Ministries of Health, Aviation, Education, Office of the First Lady, as well as the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

    He was promoted Director in 2021.

  • FEC approves N495m for installation of railway scanners

    FEC approves N495m for installation of railway scanners

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of N495 million for the installation of scanners in all the railway stations across the country.

    The FEC meeting was presided over by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

    The Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, briefed State House correspondents after the FEC meeting on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Adegoroye said that the installation would strengthen security at the railway stations.

    “The Federal Ministry of Transportation had two memos today, which I presented on behalf of the ministry; one had to do with the provision of scanners at all railway stations all over the country.

    “You will all agree with me that in view of the importance of security of lives and property such equipment has to be installed at our railway stations.

    “We are starting the railways revolution; we are trying to put in place a lot of things in the railways; we don’t want people to come and damage all that government has been trying to put in place in that sector.

    “So, today, there was a memo before the council for the provision of baggage scanners at railway stations and I am happy to inform you that the council agreed with us and approved that contract for scanners to be installed at railway stations.

    “When people get there and they have goods, they can pass through the scanners and we can be sure that there is nothing that can cause violence or inflicts danger or puts lives and property at stake,’’ he said.

    The minister said that the second memo had to do with the provision of towage services at the ports.

    He said that the Lekki Deep Sea Port was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari recently.

    Adegoroye said that one of the statutory responsibilities of the Nigerian Ports Authority was the provision of marine services, being the regulatory agency in that sector.

    “So, because of the new Lekki Deep Sea Port and the Dangote Jetty, the need has arisen for a company that can carry out towage services so as to make things a lot easier and more effortless in the ports.

    “Ship berthing will be easier; discharge of goods will be a lot easier; of course there was the argument that why would the company that provides such services at Apapa Port and Lagos TinCan Island Port not do it.

    “We think that it will overstretch that company and because it would overstretch them, they will not be able to cope; they may not have the capacity to cope.

    “Secondly, we want the Lekki Deep Sea Port and the Dangote Jetty to be able to perform maximally.

    “So, FEC agreed with us and has given a 10-year concession to that company, Messrs Alcuff, to carry out towage services at the Lekki Deep Sea Port and the Dangote Jetty,’’ he said.

  • FEC approves N15.3bn to install ICT components for 2023 Census

    FEC approves N15.3bn to install ICT components for 2023 Census

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved two contracts worth N15.3 billion for the supply an  installation of information and communication technology (ICT) components and digital assistance devices for the 2023 population census.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu made the disclosure after the Council meeting presided over by President Muhammmadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

    Shehu said: ”Among those memos that were okayed today was the award of the contract for the supply and installation of information and communication technology (ICT) components for the 2023 population census.

    ”This is for the National Population Commission (NPC). It is meant for census. The ICT component contract was awarded for about N10.9 billion.

    “Another contract that was approved for the National Population Commission was the contract for the development and implementation of mobile device management solution for the personal digital assistance devices to be used for the 2023 population census.

    ”This is in the sum of about N4.4 billion.”

    Shehu said the council also approved contract for the development of external cost of infrastructure at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) new training academy at N3.3 billion.

    He added that N1billion was equally approved for the contract for the procurement of 19 vehicles for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

    The presidential aide said the council approved N65 million for variation in the cost for the supply of airport fire crash tenders in the Ministry of Aviation.

    He further disclosed that the council approved policy on HIV/AIDS to protect people living with the disease and new regulations on woodworking ecosystem.

    “Government has revised regulations pertaining to woodworking machinery and the entire ecosystem which dated back to 1959.

    ”New regulations have been put in place as empowered by the law.

    “And by this approval, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will domicile and gazette these changes that have been approved.

    “His other approval is on policy on HIV/AIDS. Basically, this is to guarantee personal human rights over people with HIV in work places so that they are not discriminated against and they are given equal rights.

    ”They are not discriminated against and they are given all that is due to them. And they are respected, especially with regards to their personal and human rights,” he said.

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola also disclosed the council approved the construction of 283.4km roads to BUA Cement company under the Federal Government’s tax credit scheme at the cost of N328 billion.

    According to him, the contracts covering four different roads in Kwara, is covered by Executive Order 7 which promotes investments in public infrastructure, especially roads.

    Fashola explained that the contract also covered a distance of about 283.938km.

    He revealed that the council also approved digitization of the ministry’s operation at the cost of N916million and would be implemented in 12 months.

    Other memoranda approved by council for the ministry, according to him, included the augmentation of 48 kilometers Kaduna Eastern bypass contracts connecting Kaduna to about 11 states in the country, from N38bilion to N78.6billion

    He stated that about 24 kilometers of the road had been completed

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite also addressed the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting.

    He disclosed that FEC approved a new bill known as Nigeria Mining and Mineral Act, 2023, to replace the Nigerian mining law and update the law.

    The new bill captures the value chain in the mining sector, encourage value addition, as well as, recognises the artisanal miners, who will now be registered, under the proposed law.

    He disclosed that FEC approved the bill for onward transmission to the National Assembly by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

    The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, revealed that the Federal Government had secured a World Bank facility worth $800 million dollars.

    It will be used to attend to a segment of post-petroleum subsidy palliatives requirement in the country.

    According to her, the 800 million dollars is the first tranche of palliatives to be disbursed through cash transfers to about 50 million Nigerians, who belong to the most vulnerable category of society.

    She said: “When we were working on the 2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Appropriation Act, we made that provision to enable us exit fuel subsidy by June 2023.

    ”We’re on course, we’re having different stakeholders’ engagements, we’ve secured some funding from the World Bank.

    “That is the first tranche of palliatives that will enable us give cash transfers to the most vulnerable in our society that have now been registered in a national social register.

    “Today that register has a list of 10 million households. 10 million households is equivalent to about 50 million Nigerians.”

    Ahmed added that government was ready to go beyond cash transfer to cushion the effect the subsidy removal will have on Nigerians.

    She added: “We also have to raise more resources to enable us do more than just the cash transfers and also in our engagements with the various stakeholders.

    “There are various kinds of tasks that we have go beyond the requirement of just giving cash transfers. Labour, for example, might be looking for mass transit for its members.

    “So, there are several things that we’re still planning and working on, some we can start executing quickly, some are more medium-term implementation.”

    On how much funding was received from the World Bank for the execution of the planned exit, Ahmed said: “$800 million for the scale up of the National Social Investment Programme at the bank and it’s secured, it’s ready for this disbursement.”

  • FEC Approves N392.786bn for Ministry of Works, Customs others

    FEC Approves N392.786bn for Ministry of Works, Customs others

    …N15.3bn for ICT digital devices for 2023 Census

    The Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday, approved a total of N392,785,113,356 contracts to ministries, parastatals and agencies.

    This was disclosed to State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Among the memoranda that received approvals were two presented on behalf of the National Population Commission (NPC), totaling the sum of N15,300,000,000, for procurement and installation of technology-based gadgets for use in the upcoming 2023 National Population and Housing Census.

    Briefing on the approvals for the NPC, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said while the first memorandum was worth N10.9 billion, the second one was valued at N4.4 billion.

    According to him, among those memos that were okayed today was the award of the contract for the supply and installation of information and communication technology (ICT) components for the 2023 Population Census. This is for the National Population Commission (NPC). It is meant for census. The ICT component contract was awarded for about N10.9 billion.

    “Another contract that was approved for the National Population Commission was the contract for the development and implementation of mobile device management solution for the personal digital assistance devices to be used for the 2023 Population Census. This is in the sum of about N4.4 billion”, he said.

    Shehu said council also approved contract for the development of external cost of infrastructure at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) new training academy at N3.3 billion naira.

    He added that the sum of one billion naira was equally approved for the contract for the procurement of 19 vehicles for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

    The presidential spokesman said council okayed N65 million naira for variation in the cost for the supply of airport fire crash tenders in the Ministry of Aviation.

    Shehu said council approved policy on HIV/AIDS to protect people living with the disease and new regulations on woodworking ecosystem.

    According to him, “we don’t have the Minister of Labour and Employment today, but he got two approvals. One is pertaining to the woodworking ecosystem. Government has revised regulations pertaining to woodworking machinery and the entire ecosystem which dated back to 1959. New regulations have been put in place as empowered by the law. And by this approval, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will domicile and gazette these changes that have been approved.

    “His other approval is on policy on HIV/AIDS. Basically, this is to guarantee personal human rights over people with HIV in work places so that they are not discriminated against and they are given equal rights.

    “So, that is what it is about. They are not discriminated against and they are given all that is due to them. And they are respected, especially with regards to their personal and human rights”, he said.

    Also speaking to journalists at the post-FEC briefing, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fasola, disclosed that his ministry presented three memoranda, all of which were approved.

    According to him, while the first has is aimed at digitizing all records of the Ministry at the cost of N916,813,356, the other two are focused on physical road works, including the N36.459 billion Kaduna Eastern Bypass augumentation works to be executed on Sukuk Programme, and a N327.281 billion tax credit scheme granted BUA International Limited for construction of some roads in Kwara State.

    The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, told journalists that the Council granted approvals for three contracts for the Nigerian Customs Service, all totaling N20,969,400,000.

    “So this is a Nigerian Customs Service barracks and the contract was issued to two companies. Messrs AMSCO Limited is constructing 15 blocks of six numbers three bedroom flats at the Aviation Village here in Abuja. The contract is in the sum of N5.549 billion naira with a delivery period of 81 weeks.

    “The second part of it is the construction of 32 blocks of six two bedroom flats with religious center at the customs service barracks at also at the Aviation Village and this was given to Messrs WARAMS Limited in the sum of N12.843 billion naira with a delivery period of 144 weeks.

    “The Federal Executive Council also approved the procurement of 192 motor vehicles for the operations and administrative use of the Nigerian Customs Service. Different mix of vehicles, totaling 192, all of them Toyota brands. So there are Toyota Prado, Corolla, Camry, Land Cruiser and ambulances in the total sum of N9.649 billion naira including VAT with a delivery period of four weeks.

    “The third approval that we got was for the award of contract for the purchase of 210 units of residential accommodation at plot 413 Aviation Village, Abuja, for the Nigerian Customs Service, in favour of Messrs Abdulwahab Memorial Nigeria Limited in the sum of N16.125 billion naira, including the VAT”, she said.

    Meanwhile, Minister of Mines and Steels Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, said Council granted an approval for a new bill to generate a replacement for Nigeria Mineral and Mining Law 2007, which he said is obsolete.

    “What we did at the council today was just to approve a new bill to go to the National Assembly to replace the old law guiding mining in Nigeria. The law we are operating on now is 2007 Nigeria Mineral and Mining Law and 2007 to date is 16 years.

    “It has become obsolete. A lot of new things have come up in mining. There’s a renewed focus and everyone is coming there and as expressed today, it’s a new frontier for economic growth in Nigeria. So we need to update the law to in line modern realities and the laws with some amendments. The bill, the proposed Act, was passed in the Chamber’s with some amendments”, he disclosed.