Economic Confidential, September 3 2008

NEWS UPDATE

FEC Approves Billions for Projects- Yar’Adua Still Absent

The most anticipated presence of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to preside at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) today could not take place as Vice President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan chaired meeting at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja where decisions where taken on some key issues and approval of billions of Naira for projects across the country.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Minister of Information and Communication, Mr. John Odey said that Council approved the followings:

a.       Award of contract for the supply of 15 nos of complete ABB 132 KV LTB 145 Breaker Poles in favour of Messrs Striving Link Ltd in the sum of N74,139,151.38 (Seventy Four Million, One Hundred and Thirty Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty One Naira, Thirty Eight Kobo) with a completion period of 18 months.  The supply is to be made to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).  This is to minimize the occurrence of prolong power outages and to ensure system stability.

b.       Award of contract for consultancy services for Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) 2007 transmission lines and substation projects to various consulting firms, in the sum of N1,282,351,069.40 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Eighty Two Million, Three Hundred and Fifty One Thousand, Sixty Nine Naira, Forty Kobo) with a completion period of 18 months. This is to improve power supply across the country.

          The firms are:

a.       Messrs Decon/Utility and Energy Solution Ltd – N257,473,746.26 (Two Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Three Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Sixty Naira, Twenty Six Kobo);

b.       Messrs Fichdner Romelectro/Dextron – N174,621, 306.96 (One Hundred and Seventy Four Million, Six Hundred and Twenty One Thousand Three Hundred and Six Naira, Ninety six Kobo);

c.       Messrs Colenco Power Engineering Ltd – N258,419,314.98 (Two Hundred and Fifty Eight Million, Four Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Three Hundred and Fourteen Naira, Ninety Eight Kobo);

d.       Messrs Jiyoda Engrg. (Nig.) – N271,598,012.53 (Two Hundred and seventy One Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand Twelve Naira Fifty Three Kobo);

e.       Messrs Teshmont/Derekson - N170,998,603.36 (One Hundred and Seventy Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand Six Hundred and Three Naira Thirty Six Kobo).

e.       Award of contract for the construction of Central Administration Building (Phase II) at the University of Abuja’s Permanent Site in favour of Messrs Atidolf Nig. Ltd., in the sum of N375,804,681.00  (Three Hundred and Seventy Five Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty One Naira) with a completion period of 40 weeks.  The construction of the Central Administration Block will facilitate and hasten the movement of the university to its permanent site.  It will also improve the corporate image of the           institution as a citadel of learning located in the     Federal Capital         Territory.

f.       Award of contract for the construction of 2 Flyover        Bridges         with retaining walls and associated works at AYA-Junction, Asokoro District, Abuja, in favour of Messrs          Dantata and Sawoe Construction Coy Nig Ltd, in the sum of     N3,969,794,567.38 (Three Billion, Nine Hundred and   Sixty           Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety Four        Thousand, Five         Hundred and Sixty Seven Naira, Thirty Eight Kobo) with a     completion period of 18 months. This is aimed at easing traffic congestion on the busy   Keffi   Road which is presently the major gateway to all traffic into Abuja from the North Eastern part of the county, and    indeed the inhabitants of the satellite towns of Karu, Nyanya, Karshi, Mararaba, etc.

g.       Award of contract for the provision of engineering infrastructure to Area ‘D’, Asokoro District, Abuja, in favour of Messrs S.C.C. Nig. Ltd., in the sum of  N5,087,053,478.73 (Five Billion, Eighty       Seven Million, Fifty    Three Thousand, Four Hundred and           Seventy Eight Naira, Seventy Three Kobo), with a completion period of 48 months.  The non-provision of engineering infrastructure has hampered the full development of Asokoro Area ‘D’ resulting in          low economic values of properties as well as inducing poor        social life for the inhabitants.  It is also the single largest area within Phase 1 of the city that is yet to be provided with           engineering infrastructure.

h.       Award of the contract for the construction of civil, electrical and mechanical works for the Design Centre and the Satellite       Assembly, Integration and Test Centre at the       National Space Research and Development Agency          (NASRDA), Airport Road, Lugbe, Abuja, in favour of Messrs CCECC Nig. Ltd., in the sum of          (N2,232,062,311.41)  (Two Billion, Two Hundred and Thirty Two Million, Sixty Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Eleven Naira,    Forty One Kobo) comprising of N1,553,973,186.58 (One Billion, Five           Hundred and Fifty Three Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Three Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty Six Naira, Fifty    Eight Kobo) for civil work and N678,089,124.83    (Six Hundred and Seventy Eight Million, Eighty Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty Four Naira, Eighty Three Kobo) for   electrical and mechanical works, with a completion period of 62 weeks.

i.        Award of contract for the completion of reinforced concrete      perimeter wall fence and the construction of an     access road at the    Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos in favour of           Messrs, O’Hara Construction Coy Ltd. in the sum of N144,286,490.25 (One Hundred and Forty Four Million, Two    Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety       Naira, Twenty five Kobo) with a completion period of 18 months.