The Federal Government has approved the sum of $984. 7 million for the procurement of equipment for the Kano-Maradi standard gauge rail line.
Kano-Maradi rail project connects Kano (Nigeria) and neighbouring Maradi (Niger Republic).
Sambo stated this while briefing journalists at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.
The project was earlier endorsed by the Federal Government in January, 2033, when Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Muazu Jaji Sambo, and Alma Oumarou of Niger Republic signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja.
The minister noted that an MoU was presented to the Ministry was on behalf of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
”The memorandum sought council’s consideration and approval for the award of contract for the procurement of rolling stock operation and maintenance equipment for Kano-Maradi standard gauge rail line that is currently under construction.
“The contract was awarded to a company that is also the contractor handling the railway project in the sum of 984,722,302.05 dollars inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT with a completion period of four years," he said.
Sambo noted that the council approved over N510 million for the supply of customised Fire Service Vehicles for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
He stated that the ministry also presented a memo to the council on behalf of two of its agencies.
”The first agency was the NPA which sought the award of contract for the construction.and supply of four customised Fire Service search and rescue vans for extrication of accident victims for Rivers Ports, 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 in the sum of N510, 934,600 million inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT with a completion period of nine months,” he added.
This was even as the Federal Government okayed N5billion for the construction of residential quarters for National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) staff.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami said that the approval became expedient in order to secure the lives and property of the personnel, who have been recording tremendous progress in the fight against drug cartels and barons.
He said: “As you are aware, there has been renewed and sustained onslaught by the NDLEA against drug cartels and barons. Within the three quarters of 2023, about 18, 940 arrests were effected by the NDLEA and drugs worth over N40 billion were confiscated.
“The successes that were recorded unfortunately translated to unprecedented threats and attacks on personnel; the officers, men and other ranks of the agency.
”Thus, the need has arisen for the Nigerian government to consider the possibility of taking security measures that will now provide the desired protection to officers and men of the NDLEA.”
Malami disclosed that the council approved the construction of two categories of barracks totalling 192 flats.
“Accordingly, two contracts were awarded to two different contractors. The first one is for the construction of barracks comprising 92 units of three bedroom semi-detached flats for Narcotics Superintendents and Narcotics Assistant Superintendents at the cost of N2, 267, 785, 450.83.
“The second contract was in the sum of N2, 889, 480, 320. 55 for the construction of barracks comprising a total 100 units of two and three bedroom semi-detached flats for Narcotics Superintendents and Narcotics Agents," he added.
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