FEC approves N4.03 billion for FCT infrastructure development

* …Achieving 3 percent 2019 GDP growth …Achieving 3 percent 2019
GDP growth on course – FGon course – FG

The Federal Executive Council on Monday approved a total of
N4.03 billion for various infrastructural development in the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello briefed State House
correspondents at the end of FEC meeting chaired by Vice President
Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He was with the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Minister
of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, and Minister of
Finance, Zainab Ahmed.

Bello said that FEC approved all the nine memoranda from the
ministry which are expected to improve infrastructure in the
city.

The first memo, he said, is for the award of contract for the
rehabilitation of failed walkways within the Wuse District of the
Federal Capital City at the cost of N1.9 billion with a completion
period of twelve months.

He added “The second contract was for the preparation of the
electricity master plan for Phase IV of the Federal Capital City at
the cost of N189 million with a completion of ten months. As you
already know, phases I and II have their own master plan.

“The third contract is the design of infrastructure for what we
called institution and research district which is in phase III of
the Federal Capital City at the cost of N197 million.

“The fourth is engineering design of infrastructure for sector G
and H in Phase III of the Federal Capital City awarded at the cost
of N118.575 million with a completion period of six months.

“The fifth is for the design of inter-sceptic sewage line for
the federal capital city in the total sum of N125 million.

“The next one is the contract for the construction of the School
of Science at the permanent site of the FCT College of Education
Zuba at the cost of N701 million with a completion period of 42
weeks.

“The other contract is the final engineering design of
infrastructure and production of tender documents for Dawaki
District in the sum of N259 million with a six moth completion
period.”

The Minister went on “Also a contract for engineering and
infrastructure design for a 41km Nyanya-Guruku-Mpape which will
burst out at the Outer Northern Express Way which is called Murtala
Mohammed Expressway at the cost of N174 million with completion
period of six months. That is the expressway from the city that
goes right through to Zuba. Ultimately that road is going to give
another access entry point into the city and also will open up that
section of the city for development.

“The next one is for the supply and installation of a city
scanner machine for the Maitama District Hospital with a delivery
period of eight weeks at the cost of N190 million. While the other
contract is for engineering infrastructure for Kabusa District at
the total cost of N179 million,” he said.

Udoma Udo Udoma said that FEC was impressed with the 2.01% first
quarter GDP figure released by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)
on Monday.

Noting that FEC was encouraged by non-oil sector contribution to
the economic, he said that the newly released first quarter figure
is the best since 2015.

He said “The GDP numbers indicate continuing economic growth. In
the first quarter of 2019. The economic recorded a real GDP growth
of 2.01%.

“This growth reflects the strongest first quarter performance in
GDP since 2015. The first quarter is always the weakest in terms of
growth.

“The federal executive council is most encouraged by the fact
that growth continues to be driven by the non-oil sector which
affects most of our population. Also agriculture grew by 3.17% and
this represents the strongest growth in agriculture since the
fourth quarter in 2017.

“The council is also pleased to note that there are improvements
in other economic indicators such as the inflation rate, which tend
to have high inflation during an election period, but it has been
stable. Our external reserves and our trade balance has also
remained healthy over the period which our exchange rate to the
dollar has also been stable.

“So notwithstanding the elections, there has been stability. The
council believes that the dividend arising from the peaceful
elections and the re-elections of President Muhammadu Buhari will
lead to a further boost in economic growth. The nation should
therefore expect faster growth rate as the incoming cabinet
continues to intensify work on the implementation of the economic
recovery and growth plan.

“Council is pleased to note that in the next level, the
President is committed to further work on initiatives to among
other things protect Nigeria from vulnerability to any external
shocks, reverse the contraction in the oil sector and stimulate
faster growth in agriculture and manufacturing. In short, under the
next level agenda, even more initiatives will be rolled out to
ensure that growth is faster and even more inclusive as well as job
creating.

“So council believes we are still on target to achieve three
percent growth rate which is our target this year,” he said.

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