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Tag: FEC

  • FEC approves N24.2bn for free Internet in universities, markets

    FEC approves N24.2bn for free Internet in universities, markets

    Nigeria’s cabinet has approved N24.2 billion for the provision of Internet facilities at 20 airports, some institutions of learning and markets across the country.

    The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, disclosed this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the Council meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja.

    According to him, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will spearhead the provision of the Internet facilities at the designated airports and institutions.

    He said: “The Federal Executive Council has approved two memos for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)  a parastatal under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

    ”In these memos, certain intervention projects are going to be implemented by the NCC.

    “Internet will be provided in 20 selected airports in Nigeria and higher institutions of learning as well as some markets to support micro, small and medium enterprises.

    ”A contract was awarded for the provision of broadband in some selected airports. 20 of them are going to be covered in the first phase of the project.

    ”You have three airports in each geo-political zone.

    ”In South-West you have two in Lagos State, one in Ondo State; South-East you have Imo, Anambra and Enugu States will benefit; Rivers and Akwa-Ibom States for South-South.

    ”North Central has the Federal Capital Territory and Kwara States; Kano, Sokoto and Kebbi States will benefit from the North-West, while Borno, Adamawa and Gombe States will benefit from the North-East Region.”

    According to him, the Internet broadband will be provided for free for use by passengers coming to the airports, adding that a sustainability model has been developed for effective maintenance of the facilities.

    He also announced that 43 higher institutions of learning would be linked to the Internet facility.

    “Some of them are universities, some polytechnics and the price for the contract which covers the airports and institutions of learning is N18.95 billion.

    ”The second approval was for the provision of broadband to some selected markets, at the cost of N5.25 billion.

    ”The total for both memos is N24.20 billion and the project is going to be implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),” he explained.

    Also addressing the correspondents, the Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammed Abdullahi, revealed that the Council approved N41.4 billion for the construction of a Centre of Excellence for environmental restoration in Kana Local Government Area of Rivers.

    He said: ”I presented two memos, one was for the award of contract for the construction of a centre of excellence for environmental restoration in Kana Local Government Area of Rivers State in the sum of N41,472,263, 848.60, with a completion period of 24 months.”

    According to him, the centre is to facilitate an efficient and cost-effective approach to contamination management and environmental restoration as well as provide training on environmental remediation.

    “The centre will contain an admin block, auditorium, research building as well as male and female dormitories, library and clinic, among others.”

    The minister added that the council also approved N18.3 billion for the construction of a specialist hospital for the people of Ogoni in Rivers.

  • VP Yemi Osinbajo presides over FEC meeting after presidential election

    VP Yemi Osinbajo presides over FEC meeting after presidential election

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is currently presiding over the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja.

    This week’s FEC meeting is the first after the Presidential elections which saw the emergence of the All Progressives Congress Bola Tinubu as President-elect.

    Present are the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; the President’s Chief of Staff Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

    Ministers who are attending include the Ministers of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk; Finance, Zainab Ahmed; Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo; Agriculture, Mohammad Abubakar; Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Niger Delta, Umana Umana; Power, Abubakar Aliyu; Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare; Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo and Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi.

    Also attending are Ministers of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba; Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum; Science and Technology, Henry Ikoh; Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada; Petroleum, Timipre Sylva.

  • BREAKING: INEC Chairman briefs FEC, highlights threats to elections

    BREAKING: INEC Chairman briefs FEC, highlights threats to elections

    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the 2023 general election will hold as scheduled.

    Prof Yakubu said this on Wednesday in Abuja when he fielded questions from State House Correspondents after he briefed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the level of preparedness for the conduct of the elections.

    He identified scarcity of petroleum products and the naira redesign as major challenges confronting INEC, saying, however, that solutions were already in sight.

    “We took members of the council through all the preparations that we have put in place for the elections and the few challenges that we are facing and the steps we have taken to address them.

    “The first one is the availability of petroleum products. We had a meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers and they raised that as an issue of concern,” Yakubu said.

    He said that immediately after the meeting with the transport union, the commission interfaced with the leadership of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC).

    “Right now, there is a technical committee working; the idea is for them to avail us the use of their over 900 land mega as well as floating mega stations nationwide for the purpose of stocking products.

    ”This is to ensure that the commission doesn’t suffer any encumbrances in movement of personnel and materials for the election.

    “The second one is the currency issue and again we had an engagement yesterday with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and he assured us that the commission will not suffer any encumbrances on that front.

    ”Fortunately for us, all our accounts, national and state are held by the apex bank,’’ he said.

    Yakubu added:  ”So, we raised those challenges and we have found solutions to those challenges so be rest assured that the elections are going to be held as scheduled; on February 25 for the National and on March  11 for the State election.”

    The INEC Chairman also said that he plans to brief the Council of State on Feb. 10.

  • Hackers make 66 attempts to compromise Nigeria’s FEC meeting

    Hackers make 66 attempts to compromise Nigeria’s FEC meeting

    Hackers from Europe made 66 attempts to compromise the virtual meetings of Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC); attempts that were foiled, according to the federal government.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami revealed this in Abuja at the 19th edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023).

    The scorecard series was organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture to showcase the achievements of the Buhari’s administration.

    Presenting the scorecards of his ministry, Pantami said since the unveiling of the National Policy on Virtual Engagements for Federal Public Institutions in October, 2020, not less than, 108 virtual FEC meetings had been held.

    He said from the 108 virtual FEC meetings held, 66 attacks to compromise the meetings were made from Europe but all were failed.

    The minister said all the cases were reported to the appropriate authorities for the record and actions.

    He recalled that the National Policy on Virtual Engagements was launched to formalise government online meetings such as FEC and Council of State meetings.

    The minister said that with the policy developed with the office of the Head of Service of the Federation, government’s virtual meetings could be held effectively and legally.

    He said the implementation of the virtual meetings had saved the country over N47 billion which could have been used if they were held physically.

    The minister also disclosed that in line with Buhari’s vision to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty, not less than 2.2 million jobs had been created in the digital sector in the past three years.

    He said the feat was achieved in the sector by the implementation of the Executive Orders signed by the President to priotise indigenous content as well as indigenous professional in the execution of national projects.

    Pantami said in the execution of jobs, planning and design of projects as well as appointments of key officials in the digital sector of the country priorities were given  to indigenous professionals.

    He said his ministry also priotised the execution of programmes and projects that could generate direct and indirect jobs.

  • FEC okays NNPC Ltd to invest N1.9trn in 44 federal roads

    FEC okays NNPC Ltd to invest N1.9trn in 44 federal roads

    The Federal Executive Council(FEC) has approved the recommendation for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC LTD.) to invest 1.9 trillion in the reconstruction of 44 federal roads under the tax credit policy.

    The council gave the approval at its meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, briefed State House correspondents on behalf of the Minister of Works and Housing.

    “The Federal Executive Council approved the recommendation to invest in the reconstruction of selected federal roads under the Federal Government Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Policy phase 2 by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited and its subsidiaries.

    “So, the council approved the proposal by the Ministry of Works and Housing for the reconstruction of 44 proposed federal roads with a total length of 4,554 kilometers in the total sum of N1.9 trillion.’’

    Akande said the council also approved the concession of nine federal roads.

    He said that roads were spread across the country.

    “In another memo, the Minister for Works and Housing also got approval of the council for concessionaires for nine road corridors under the pilot phase of the value-added section of the Highways Development and Management Initiative following the issuance of the requisite full business case compliance certificate by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission for a period of 25 years for each road corridor as follows.

    “The roads that will be under this first phase are the Benin-Asaba corridor, Abuja-Lokoja-Onitsha-Owerri-Aba, Shagamu-Benin, Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi, Kano-Maiduguri, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta and Lagos-Badagry-Seme.’’

    More so, Akande said that the Minister for Works and Housing got the council’s approval for the augmentation of the contract for the rehabilitation of the Oshogbo-Ilesha road phase 1 in Osun State in the sum of N1.2 billion.

    “The approval thereby revises the subsisting contract sum from N3 billion to N4 billion representing an increase of 33 per cent of the original sum,’’ he said.

  • FEC approves 3 PPP projects for NIMASA, targets $1.1bn revenue – ICRC

    FEC approves 3 PPP projects for NIMASA, targets $1.1bn revenue – ICRC

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved three Public Private Partnership (PPP) Projects to be executed in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    This is contained in a statement by Mrs Manji Yarling, Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

    Yarling said the projects, under the regulatory guidance of the ICRC, were projected to generate over 1.1 billion  dollars to the Federal Government during the concession period.

    She said the projects included the Eastern Offshore Waste Reception Facility, Central/Western Offshore Waste Reception Facility and a Floating Dry Dock.

    Yarling said the projects were approved by FEC following the issuance of Full Business Case Certificate of Compliance (FBC) by the PPP regulatory body, the ICRC.

    She said the Director-General, ICRC, Michael Ohiani issued the FBCs for the Offshore Waste Reception Facilities (OWRF) projects.

    According to her, Ohiani said the move demonstrated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to the environmental well-being of coastal communities and offshore fishermen.

    “The essence of the approvals by FEC is for the OWRF to put in place a standard facility for use in Nigeria’s international waters, in compliance with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) 1973/1978.”

    Ohiani said the goal of the proposed partnership was to protect the offshore environment and provide a visible deterrent for offshore polluters from a surveillance point of view.

    He said it was also to reduce the current level of pollution to the benefit of offshore fishermen and coastal communities.

    The director-general said the OWRF projects would essentially help keep the seas and oceans clean.

    “Each facility, when completed, would be adequate to fully meet the needs of ships and other installations regularly making use of the facilities, and contribute to the improvement of the marine environment.

    ” They will allow for the ultimate disposal and discharge of wastes from ships and other installations in an environmentally friendly way,” Ohiani said.

    He said more details on the Eastern OWRF showed that the Design, Finance, Build, Operate, Maintain and Transfer (DFBOMT) PPP model would be adopted with XPO Marine Services Limited as the concessionaire for an initial period of 10 years.

    “The projected total revenue from Eastern OWRF for the entire concession period due to Federal Government based on revenue sharing ratios is 279.4 million dollars.

    “The projected total revenue for the entire concession period from the Central and Western zones due to Federal Government, based on the revenue sharing ratios, is 765.2 million dollars.

    “The concessionaire for the Central and Western OWRF is African Circle Pollution Waste Management Limited and the concession period is also 10 years.”

    He said also approved by FEC was the management contract to Operate, Maintain and Transfer (OMT) the Floating Dry Dock (FDD) of NIMASA.

    ” The FDD is for the repair of cabotage vessels.

    “The concessionaire, J. Marine Logistics Limited, is to manage the Modular/Floating Dry Dock for 15 years.

    “Total revenue accruing to NIMASA for the 15 years concession period is 65.6 million dollars (N27.2 billion).

    When fully implemented, the project is expected to create over 800 direct and indirect jobs.”

    Ohiani said beyond revenue generation, the project was also expected to create jobs, develop capacity and provide maintenance facilities for ships and boats.

    He said FEC also approved a PPP project in Ikeja Lagos, for the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) to develop a commercial mixed-use complex.

    Ohiani said that the complex would comprise houses, hotels, recreational facilities as well an office complex.

    ‘The FRCN PPP project was approved for a concession period of 55 years with expected revenue for the period put at N14.9 billion while the concessionaire is Fish Valley Investment & Property Limited. “

  • Flood: Medical supports provided to 199 LGs – Hajiya Farouq

    Flood: Medical supports provided to 199 LGs – Hajiya Farouq

    Hajiya Sadiya  Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said medical support had been provided to 199 Local Government Areas affected by flooding across the country.

    Farouq briefed State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    She said that as at Friday, records indicated that no fewer than 3.2 million persons were affected by flooding in Nigeria.

    She said: “Today, with my colleague Minister of Water Resources, we made a presentation on the flood situation from the emergency and humanitarian aspect; we also have had series of consultations after the predictions by NIMET.

    “ My ministry took proactive early action steps through series of activities; we had technical analysis that produced a 2022 Early Warning Document.

    “ We also sent out letters to state governments; conducted a national consultative workshop on the 2022 flood preparedness, mitigation and response at the national and zonal levels.

    “Unfortunately, in spite of all these efforts, the statistics of persons affected as Friday  showed that 3, 219, 780 persons were affected by the flood across the country.

    “ We have 1, 427, 370 persons that were internally displaced; we have 2776 persons that were injured; we also have 612 persons that lost their lives.”

    Farouq also said that 181, 600 houses that were partially damaged while 123, 807 houses were completely damaged and  392,399 hectares of farmlands that were totally destroyed.’

    According to Farouq, the flood this year has been very devastating and very unprecedented.

    She said that there was need for a coordinated response so as to rescue victims of the flood across many states of the federation.

    The minister said that the coordinated response presented an opportunity to operationalise the recently approved National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan.

    “We have also sent out our search and rescue team that is being guided by a Search and Rescue and Epidemic Evacuation Plan.

    “ Their personnel and teams require specialised and technical training; personnel protection gears and access to the right equipment.

    “ Most of these specialised officers are skilled in first aid, defensive swimming and also how to handle boats in the riverine areas.

    “The efforts so far in these communities are still ongoing with the search and rescue,’’Farouq added.

    She said that the ministry had received report that in 144 Local Government Areas, local communities also worked with the ministry’s teams to provide the first aid response to their families and neighbours.

    Farouq said that the collaboration showed the resilience of Nigerians in trying times.

    “Our search and rescue team, which is also responsible for evacuating people and providing life-saving first aid and medical support and referrals to hospitals has also been able to reach 199 Local Government Areas within 25 states of the federation.

    “`We also provided portable water through fire vehicles in the northern and central states like Jigawa, Kano, Benue and Kogi that first experienced the flood.

    ”The equipment are now on their way to the southern states as we are stabilising in the north and experiencing flooding in the south.

    “The disaster rescue units of the military are also providing support with equipment.

    “ In the southern states the military is still carrying out surveillance; and aerial assessment of in doubted communities to guide the ground rescue efforts and evacuation of victims of the flood,”Farouq said.

    She said that the distribution of relief materials to the affected states had commenced.

    According to her, the Federal Ministry of Health has been requested to interface with the affected state ministries to intervene in medical related issues to post flood epidemics.

    Farouq said: “We have 22 states that we have been able to deliver these relief items; it is worthy to note that transportation of relief has been affected by some inaccessible areas.

    “For instance, in the case of Bayelsa and Kogi, our trucks carrying relief materials were almost submerged on the road, hence the delay in the delivery of relief materials.

    “ But, to address this in Bayelsa, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is assisting us by airlifting these materials to the targeted communities.

    “We are also distributing non food items in terms of shelter and other items; NEMA and the NAF officers are organising these materials to be airlifted to Bayelsa and Rivers.’’

    She appealed to state governments, ministries and departments to also collaborate at the sub-national level.

    The minister said that some of the casualties were caused by the inability to respond to early warnings being issued by different agencies of government since February.

    “Government is doing everything possible to see that we bring support and succour to our affected citizens.

    “ We want them to know that we hear them, we see them and we are with them at this trying moment,’’ she said.

  • FEC approves N11.8bn for aviation equipment, N592m for MRI for OAU teaching hospital

    FEC approves N11.8bn for aviation equipment, N592m for MRI for OAU teaching hospital

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N11.8 billion for the procurement of equipment and setting up of a fire fighting trucks maintenance centre in Katsina State and an aircraft maintenance centre in Abuja.

    Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika revealed this when he briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said: “we got approval for the award of contracts for the establishment of a fire truck maintenance and refurbishment centre in Katsina State and this is a very critical procurement for us.

    ”It is to attend to all the issues we are having with fire tenders all over the country.

    “Past governments used to shift these firefighting equipment back to Europe where they were manufactured, just to get them refurbished and brought back at a cost and time; thus exporting our labour and foreign exchange.

    ”But the Buhari government decided that we should establish one of such centres.

    ”The approval was for N7, 913, 949, 964, inclusive of 6.5 percent Value Added Tax .”

    The Minister said when fully established, the centre would cater for aviation firefighting trucks as well as other heavy duty vehicles.

    ”That centre will cater for aviation firefighting equipment including all other firefighting equipment around the country.

    ”In fact it is not going to be limited to firefighting but it will be for heavy duty vehicles that could be maintained,” the minister maintained.

    According to him, with time, as the workers in the centre gain experience, the centre will go into assembly of such trucks in Nigeria and eventually begin to manufacture such vehicles locally.

    He added that N3, 985, 432, 685 was approved for the construction of the building that would house the maintenance centre.

    Sirika also disclosed that the ministry got approval for the full business case for the establishment of a maintenance and overhaul facility in the country, where aircrafts would be maintained in Nigeria.

    “In this particular case, we will be doing the maintenance of aircrafts here, once the facility is established.

    ”This business case is for 30 years and a consortium will carry out the work and they will be paying a fixed fee of 30, 000 dollars in the first year with annual escalation rate of three percent payable annually and in advance,” he explained.

    Council also approved N592m for procurement of MRI diagnostic machine at OAU Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife.

    The Minister of State, Health, Ekumankama Joseph, who also briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, said the Council approved N592million for procurement of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) diagnostic machine for OAU Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife.

    He stated that the procurement had become necessary following poor services to patients suffering from ailments requiring thorough diagnosis.

    According to him, the Council in its magnanimity approved the purchase of the single unit 1.5 MRI equipment to replace the obsolete one of 0.2 which is no longer up to standard.

    Joseph expressed optimism that upon delivery and installation of the equipment, patients who go through pains traveling to access better health services would stay back and access them at their leisure.

    He said: “The memo that we presented from the Federal Ministry of Health is for the procurement of MRI equipment for the Obafemi Awolowo University Hospital, that is Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment.

    ”You may not be aware that the University hospital has only one 0.2 Tesla MRI equipment, which is no longer up to standard when you compare it with the advanced technology.

    ”That has made the availability of 1.5 MRI equipment for diagnostic services in most hospitals, both within and outside the country.

    ”So, we have been having challenges of giving the very best of health services to people, patients who come to the hospital for diagnostic services and treatment.

    “So, today FEC in its wisdom approved for procurement and supply of one unit A 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine, and other accessories for the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife in the sum of N592,271,792.48.

    ”This is inclusive of 7.5% VAT with a delivery period of six months.

    “With the procurement of this equipment, it is strongly believed that most patients that usually travel to Lagos or other surrounding environment close to Ile-Ife, to seek for better medical services, will now be able to have the comfort and leisure of staying back in Ife to get the medical services they need in terms of diagnosis and treatment at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital.

    “So we thank the Council for the privilege of receiving this kind of approval which will go a long way to strengthen the health services at the University Teaching Hospital”.

  • Buhari swears in CJN Ariwoola, presides over FEC meeting

    Buhari swears in CJN Ariwoola, presides over FEC meeting

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria at the Council chamber of the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.

    Newsmen reports that the swearing-in of Ariwoola followed his confirmation by the Senate on Sept 21 three months after his appointment by the president.

    Ariwoola took the judicial oath of office In a brief ceremony shortly before the commencement of the weekly virtual meeting of Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by the president.

    Newsmen reports that the event was witnessed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, some cabinet Ministers, other justices of the Supreme Court, the Governors of Oyo and Ondo States, Seyi Makinde and Rotimi Akeredolu respectively.

    Ariwoola was appointed as acting CJN on June 27, following the resignation of  Justice Tanko Muhammad, on health grounds.

    Justice Ariwoola was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court on Nov.  22, 2011 by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He is an indigene of Iseyin in Oyo State

    Speaking to State House correspondents after the swearing in, the CJN appealed to politicians in the country to allow the judiciary function properly as the 2023 elections approach while promising reforms at the apex court.

    Makinde, who also spoke to the correspondents, expressed gratitude on behalf of the people and government of Oyo state to the president.

    Meanwhile, the Council observed a minute silence in honour of former Minister for Special Duties and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, who died recently.

  • FEC endorses 2023 Budget Proposal for presentation to NASS

    FEC endorses 2023 Budget Proposal for presentation to NASS

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has endorsed the 2023 budget proposal for onward presentation to the National Assembly.

    Mr. Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, confirmed this when he addressed State House Correspondents after the Council meeting on Wednesday.

    The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to the presidential aide, the president will lay the budget proposal before a joint sitting of the National Assembly on Friday.

    He said: “It was virtually a one item Federal Executive Council meeting in which the budget proposals for 2023 was presented and discussed at length.

    “That budget proposal would be taken to the National Assembly on Friday morning by the President.’’

    Adesina, however, declined to give details of the Council’s decision, “as a mark of respect for the National Assembly.

    “It will not be proper to begin to discuss the content of what will be officially presented on Friday.

    “We want to give the National Assembly the honour of receiving it first then there will be a breakdown on a later date by the Minister of Finance.’’