FG okays funds to augment Ose-Akwa Bridge in Anambra, others

THE Federal Executive Council (FEC), has approved the sum of N118 million for the completion of the Ose-Akwa Bridge in Anambra.

Information Minister, Lai Mohammed briefed State House correspondents on behalf the Minister of Works after the virtual FEC meeting anchored from the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, stated that the contract was awarded to Messrs Horizon Construction Company Limited originally in the sum of N896.9 million.

Mohammed said that there was unforeseen huge flooding which made it impossible for the contractor to continue with the two-kilometre approach road leading the company to request the ministry for augmentation to take care of the damages and necessaries.

He said that the augmentation amounted to a revised sum of N1.14 billion for the bridge.

“The Minister of Works presented a memorandum for the augmentation of the contract for the construction of Ose-Akwa Bridge in Anambra State.

 “It is actually for the construction of a 90-metre long bridge with two-kilometre approach and the completion period is 12 months.

“It is important to note that this contract has already attained 87.9 per cent completion but was stalled in 2012 after 90-metre Bridge had been constructed.’’

 “The lapse in time and period has made the contract rate to be reviewed.

“So, accordingly Messrs. Horizon Construction submitted augmentation for a repair job in the sum of N160 million which was more than 15 per cent; so it had to go through due process.

“Having sought and obtained presidential approval, the contract was finally approved and augmented by the sum of N118 million, thereby reversing the total contract to N1.14 billion”, the minister stated.

The minister also briefed the correspondents on behalf of the Minister of Finance. He said the minister presented a memo to council for the purchase of equipment for the Nigeria Customs Service which includes 1,200 units of colour printers and desktop computers for human resources management system and accounting management systems across its Zones and Area Commands. According to the minister, the sum of the contract is N623.7 million.

Mohammed also briefed State House correspondents on behalf of the Minister of Aviation and stated that Aviation contract was approved for the revised estimated cost for the construction of Boeing 737 Full Flight Simulator Building for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.

“The memo was actually for the review of the contract; the contract had already been awarded to Stabilini before for the sum of N983.4 million but it is being reviewed for the following reasons.

“There is a need to upgrade the electrical system to cover procurement of 2-number 500kVA power supply as against the 250KVA in the original contract and the need for the upgrading of power supply is because the two simulators will need 300KVA power as opposed to 250KVA.

“Also, to upgrade the power supply of the simulator building for the two simulators and also because the power supply for the building simulators are to be sourced now from a farther distance than what was anticipated.

“Before they thought that they could source the power with 60 metres to the building but now they have to move to about 80 metres to source the power and this was why the contract had to go up and the BPP approved N118 million increase in the project,’’ Mohammed said.

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Hon. CARL UMEGBORO is a legal practitioner (Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and human rights activist. As an advocate of conflict resolution through ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution), he has acquired intensive training and has been inducted into The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom) as an Associate. He is a prolific writer and public affairs analyst. Prior to his call to Bar as a lawyer, he has been a veteran journalist and columnist in all national newspapers, and has over 250 published articles in various newspapers to his credit. Barrister Umegboro is also a regular guest-analyst to many TV and radio programme on crucial national issues. He can be reached through: (+234) 08023184542, (+234) 08173184542 OR Email: umegborocarl@gmail.com

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