The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved three contracts to beef up operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The Minister of Aviation, Senator, Hadi Sirika, briefed State House correspondents after a virtual FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Today, Council received three memoranda from civil aviation and they were all approved consequently.
“Memo number one is for approval for a contract for the supply and installation of baggage handling system at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and the total contract sum is N3.6 billion inclusive of the 7.5 per cent VAT, with the completion period of 12 months.
“The contractor is Messrs Gulf of Africa International Limited, who is exclusive representatives of the original equipment manufacturer.
“The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is Messrs UBS Systems Company, a company that is located in Istanbul, Turkey; the funding was found and appropriated and council consequently approved.’’
Sirika said that the second memo from aviation was approval for the award of contract for the manufacture, supply, installation and operating training of disabled aircraft recovery system at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
He said such installation would be used in removing obstructions and easing operations.
“This system is to be applied in the event that there is an aircraft that is occupying the runway or any area of operations that we have, so the special equipment will be used to remove that aircraft from that place and free it for our own operations.
“Contract sum is N2.2 billion inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT.
“ This was issued to Messrs Globsley Project Limited; the OEM representatives are Messrs AMS Aircraft Recovery Limited.’’
The minister said that the third memo was approval for the award of contract for direct procurement, installation and commissioning of the total radar coverage modernisation for the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency.
“The contract sum is N28 billion.
“ The contractors are Messrs Talas, who had been on the project and supported by Intelligent Transportation Systems Limited and Messrs. Softnet Systems Nigeria Limited and the OEMs are Messrs Talas Systems of France and Messrs HM Global of Germany,’’ he said.
FEC also approved the procurement of 46 units of vehicles for operational and administrative use by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, briefed State House correspondents.
The minister said that the vehicles would bolster the operational efficiency of the service and increase revenue generation.
“Today, council approved the procurement of 46 units of vehicles, these are for operational and administrative use by the Nigeria Customs Service.
“This was awarded to Messrs Elizade Nigeria Limited at the total cost of N1.5 billion and this amount is inclusive of the 7.5 per cent VAT.
“Recall that the last set of procurement of vehicles that was done for Customs was in 2017 and 2020.
“And in 2020, we did see a whole lot of huge seizures that was made by the Nigeria Customs and also the performance in terms of revenue.’’
He said that as at August 2021, the NCS had over performed the prorated rate of the target that it was given.
“So, council believes that with the provision of these additional vehicles, it will also be enhancing not only their effectiveness but their efficiency and then, more revenue will be generated,’’ he said.
Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, also briefed State House correspondents on other approvals made by the council.
Adesina said there was an approval for the construction and furnishing of new senate building and a 1000 capacity conference centre at the University of Abuja at the cost of N2.3 billion.
He said the memorandum was presented by the Education Ministry and it was approved.
The special adviser said that council also approved contracts for the Ministries of Power and Works and Housing.
“There was also an approval for award of contract for the construction of 400 kilowatts Solar PV Power Plant at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, to Messrs Hilkam Engineering Consultancy Limited at the cost of N768. 9 million by the Minister of Power, and it was approved.
“And then, there was an approval for the Minister of Works and Housing for the award of contract for the rehabilitation of Sokoto-Illera road; that is at the Nigeria end and Birnin-Konni, Niger-Republic end in Sokoto State.
“The contract sum is N8.4 billion awarded to Messrs Amirco Universal Concept Limited,’’ he said.
