Ministers of Information, Patricia Akwashiki, Interior; Abba Moro, Niger Delta, Steve Oru, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, who jointly briefed newsmen after the meeting, said the Council also approved a report of the ministerial implementation committee on harmonisation of taxes and levies across the federation.
Speaking on the contracts awarded, the Minister of Niger Delta, Steven Oru said Council ratified contracts which were earlier given anticipatory approvals by Jonathan sometimes around the end of last year in his ministry. According to him, his ministry got four projects ratified by FEC: one had to with the construction of Zara, Okodia-Iseni Road in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“The other one has to with the construction of Agadagba-Akotokpo-Isaya-Ovia River and Bridge in Irele Local Government of Ondo State; the construction of Ofagbe Udeze-Ozoro Road with a spur from Ovwie to Aba Road in Isoko North, Isoko South local government areas of Delta State and the construction of Amasoma-Egbedi Road in Okolouma Okpokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“The construction of Zarama-Okodia Iseme Road in Yenagoa Local Government in Bayelsa State was awarded in favour of Messrs Eneko Nigeria Ltd in the sum of N5. 923 billion with a completion period of 18 months; the construction of Agadagba-Akotoko -Iyasa-Ovia Road and bridge in Irele Local Government of Ondo State is in favour of CGC Nigeria Ltd in the sum of N15.628 billion while the construction of Amasoma-Egbedi Road in Kolokuma Okpokuma Local Government of Bayelsa State in favour of Messrs.
Dantu Construction Nigeria Ltd in the sum of N2.767 billion with a completion period of 18 months.” On his part, the minister of Interior, Abba Moro, who commented on international passport, said the Federal Government approved contract for the production of 10 million e-passports.
“The contract for Irish Technology was renewed for a period of four years and the production of 10 million e-passport booklets in their various categories: 32-page, 62-page, and their counterparts of diplomatic and official passports.
“The renewal is as a result of subsisting agreement between the Ministry of Interior and the Irish Smart Technologies Limited, an indigenous company had been involved in the production of e-passport and related travel documents for the Nigerian Immigration Service, since 2007, even before I became the Minister of Interior.
“I am not sure that it is because no other organization can produce that, was the reason for the award of the contract to Irish Technology. They have performed very well and we have looked at all the perimeters of the agreement and agreed that in the period under review, they have performed very.
Reacting to the development, an Edo State Government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “Those arrested, from what we gathered, are junior workers of the War Against Indiscipline. The state governor does not condone cultism, which explains why when one of his bodyguards was accused of being involved in cultism, he ordered his arrest, which was done immediately.”
