Federal Executive Council approves N200 million for irrigation programme

Timothy Choji, Abuja

The Nigerian cabinet has approved N200 million for the completion of an irrigation programme in Kwara State.

Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents on decisions reached at this week’s cabinet meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the Minister, “I presented two memos, one seeking the approval for an award of contract for the reversed cost for an extension of time for consultancy services for Tada Songhai Irrigation project in Kwara State.

“Recall that in the last two months, at the council meeting, we approved the reversal of the total cost of the main project and we got approval to extend the services of the consultant for another 12 months. It was 24 months plus 12 months extension period, making it 36 for a total sum of N200,192,200 million inclusive 7.5 percent VAT.

“These are high priority project along the banks of River Niger and has the potential to improve production in the country especially rice production.”

Adamu said the Council also approved the award of a contract for a dedicate power line for another irrigation programme in Oyo State.

“The second one, is approval for award of contract for a dedicated power line for middle Ogun Irrigation project phase one which is in Inshiyin in Oyo State. As you know, most of our irrigation systems use to be powered by diesel generators but because of deregulation, using diesel has become so expensive and not sustainable.

“So, we have to look for other ways and means to power irrigation systems, we are looking at both National grid and solar. In this case we have an interim arrangement to extend power for national grid power to irrigation scheme and in the future before it is finished, we will take it to solar. The capacity coverage is about 3,000 hectares and right now about 1,300 hectares have been finished but because of lack of power we cannot irrigate the land.,” he explained.

Interior

While also briefing Journalists, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola informed them that cabinet approved N768 million for the procurement of operational vehicles for the Nigeria Immigration Service.

“Council approved the procurement of operational vehicles to enhance efficiency in the service for those who have been recently promoted in the Nigeria Immigration Service, Comptrollers, Assistant Comptroller Generals, Deputy Comptroller Generals as well as patrol vehicles. The council approved procurement of 44 operational vehicles at total contract sum of N768,077,08 million.

“Council also approved contract for the furnishing of the technology building, that is the data and communication command and control centre, it will also serve as the service Headquarter of Nigeria Immigration Service. The contract was awarded at the total sum of N2,100,080,759.65 billion.

“While the final phase of consultancy was given to an architectural design consultant, the award has a total sum of N163,956,232.03,  The duration of the project is four months,” he said.

Nnenna.O