by Laila Ibrahim

The Federal Government has approved the sum of N147.4 billion as additional funds for road projects in the country.

The minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, who disclosed this on Wednesday, said the council reviewed the progress on two major roads, Benin-Ore-Lagos as well as Okene-Benin Expressway.

It was learnt that the Minister of Works brought a memorandum to seek Council’s approval for the award of contracts for the Execution of Phase II, Dualisation of Lokoja-Benin Road Section I, II, III and IV in Kogi State and Edo State. Also, the Council approved the award of contracts for the execution of the aforementioned projects in the follow order:

“Contract No. 6135 for the dualisation ‎Lokoja-Benin Road Section I: Obajana Junction-Okene (40.00km) in Kogi State in favour of Messrs CGC (Nigeria_ Limited in the sum of N18,905,502,377.69 thereby revising the contract sum from N11.663,957,682.30 to N30,569,460,059.99 .

“Contracts No. 6136 for the dualisation of Lokoja-Benin Road Section II: Okene-Auchi (26.70km) in Kogi and Edo states, in favour of Messrs Mothercat Limited in the sum of N10,227,820,541.42, thereby revising the contract sum from N11,086,276,140.35 to N21,294,096,681.78.

“Contract No. 6137 for the dualisation of Lokoja-Benin Road Section III: Auchi-Ehor (29.20km) in Edo State in favour of Messrs Danata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited in the sum of N23,206,811,244.87, thereby revising the contract sum from N11,659,588,‎909.69 to N34,866,400,154.56.

“Contract No. 6138 for the dualisation of Lokoja-Benin Road Section IV: Ehor-Benin (47.70km)‎ in Edo State in favour of Messrs RCC (Nigeria) Limited, in the sum of N23,572,346,477.53 thereby revising the contract sum from N11,679,997,440.71 to N35,253,343,918.24″.

The Minister of works also presented a memorandum to seek Council’s approval for the award of contract No. 6241 for the reconstruction and asphalt overlay of Benin-Ofosu-Ore-Ajebandele-Shagamu‎ dual carriageway Phase IV: Ajebandele-Shagamu KM162 + 586 (Ondo State to KM 261 + 000 (Ogun) in Ogun State.

The project upon completion will improve the riding qualities of the road and lead to reduction of travel time from Benin to Shagamu by five hours.

He noted that there is a budgetary provision of the sums of N800 million and N10 billion have been approved in the 2014 and SURE-P Appropriation respectively for the project.

After deliberations, Council approved the award of contract for the construction and asphalt overlay of Benin-Ofosu-Ore-Ajebandele-Shagamu dual carriageway Phase IV:‎Ajebandele-Shagamu KM162 + 586 (Ondo State to KM 261 + 000 (Ogun) in Ogun State in favour of Messrs RCC (Nigeria Limited in the sume of N71,648,176,867.38 with a completion period of 48 months.

The minister of state for Trade and Investment told journalists that Council also gave approval for the new international Cocoa Agreement, 2010.

The Trade Minister approached council with a memo for the new International Cocoa Agreement, 2010 which was negotiated by member countries of the International Cocoa Organization ( ICCO) to seek Council’s approval for the ministry to initiate the process fir Nigeria to sign and ratify the Agreement through the Ministry of Justice leading to accession.

According the working document of the FEC, the objectives of the ICCO are the development and strengthening of international cooperation between producers and consumers. Also, to encourage research and implementation of its findings through the promotion of training and information programmes leading to the transfer of technologies suitable for cocoa to members countries.

After deliberations, Council approved that the ministry initiated the process for Nigeria to sign and ratify leading to accession. In addition, Council directed the ministry to forward the Agreement to the Ministry of Justice which will in turn prepare the appropriate instrument of signing and ratification of the new Agreement for deposition at the United Nations Office in New York.

Those also present at the FEC meeting were the Ministers of information, Labaran Maku; Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu; the minister of state for trade and investment, Samuel Ortom; as well as the Director-General of the Budget Office, Bright Okogwu.