The Federal Executive Council has approved N7.2 billion for emergency repairs on 32 federal roads in Lagos State.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said this at the end of the Council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
According to the minister, he presented three memos to the council, with two on approvals and one as a report on the meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, held in Jos, Plateau.
He said: “The other two which are memoranda for approval, was to ratify the emergency repairs of about 32 routes of federal roads in Lagos State emergency repairs carried out between 2017 and 2019.
“We were seeking council’s ratification for 32 routes such as Iganmu-Ijora-Isolo, Herbert Macaulay road, Jibowu-Unilag road, old Abeokuta-Egba, Mushin, Falomo and so on.
“It was for 7.28 2 billion Naira and the council approved the emergency procurement which had been done between 2017 and 2019.”
He also said the sum of N79.3 billion was approved as variation for Bodo Bonny Road in Rivers State.
“Then there was also the contract for the Bodo Bonny road and bridge. That contract was previously awarded at N120.6 billion.
“We sought approval from council to augment it by N79.305 billion, bringing it to a total sum of N199 billion. N199.923 billion is now the total revised contract sum and council approved.
“Major highlight of the augmentation was to revise the prices, which were based on 2002 prices when it was awarded, and also to change some of the scope of works and design. Instead of approach roads, we’re constructing more approach bridges.
“There were also provisions for additional mini bridges. There were also provisional bridges over pipelines that were discovered, instead of relocating the pipelines, which was meant to cause much more money,” he added.
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, also revealed that the Council approved N17.4 billion for the purchase of a property in Lagos, to serve as the new headquarters of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
He said: “The council approved the purchase of Kanti Towers, located at 35, Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, for the new headquarters of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
“The purchase is in the sum of N17, 471, 005, 130.54 inclusive of 7.5 percent tax.”
According to him, the new office complex is a 16-story building consisting of the latest technology fittings, a helipad and a parking bay for over 100 cars.