By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Minister of Water Resources,. Suleiman Adamu, has disclosed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has given the approval to extend the services of the consultant, Messers Tech Consult Consultancy International and associates Ltd on irrigations for another 12 months for a total sum of N200,192,200 million inclusive 7.5 percent VAT.
This cheering news was dropped today in Abuja by the Minister while addressing State House Correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at Presidential Villa, Abuja
According to him, “I presented two memos, one seeking the approval for an award of contract for the reversed cost for an extension of time for consultancy services for Tiger Sungai Irrigation project in Kwara State.
“Recall that in the last two months, the first council meeting, we approved the reversal of the total cost itself of the main project and got approval to extend the services of the consultant, Messers Tech Consult Consultancy International and associates Ltd for another 12 months.
“It was 24 months plus 12 months extension plus 12 months liability period, making it 36 for a total sum of N200,192,200 million inclusive 7.5 percent VAT.
These are high priority project along the banks of River Niger and has the potential to improve production in the country especially rice production. The second one, is approval for award of contract for a dedicated power line for middle Ogun Irrigation project phase one which is in Iseyin in Oyo State.
“As you know, most of our irrigation system use to be powered by diesel generators but because of deregulation and with diesel it has become so expensive and not sustainable. So we have to look for other ways and means to power irrigation systems, we are looking at both National grid and solar.
“In this case we have an interim arrangement to extend power for national grid power to irrigation scheme and in the future before it is finished, we will take it to solar. The capacity coverage is about 3,000 hectares and right now about 1,300 hectares have been finished but because of lack of power we cannot irrigate the land. Also the land is only being used for rare…irrigation
“Last week Council approved the contract for the provision of solar power system for Seki irrigation project in Katsina. This is a project that was started in 1998, it was finished and commissioned in 2018/2019 but we have not been able to put the irrigation system to use because it’s a diesel power system and it’s not sustainable. We have now awarded contract for solar system to power irrigation system and we will like to see the land being cultivated starting from this dry season”.
Meanwhile, Minister of Interior,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said that FEC has approved the procurement of operational vehicles to enhance efficiency in the service for those who have been recently promoted in the Nigeria Immigration Service, Comptrollers, Assistant Comptroller Generals, Deputy Comptroller Generals as well as patrol vehicles.
The Council has approved procurement of 44 operational vehicles at total contract sum of N768,077,08 million. The beneficiaries are messers PAN, Kawra and Wanla Motors Nigeria Ltd. Council also approved contract for the furnishing of the technology building, that is the data and communication command and control center, it will also serve as the service Headquarter of Nigeria Immigration Service.
The award is Favour of messers Julius Berger Nigeria Plc at the total sum approved is N2,100,080,759.65 billion while the final phase of consultancy was given to Messers APTECH Practice Ltd, an architectural design consultants.
” The ward is a total sum of N163,956,232.03. The duration of the project is four months.
