To streamline trade negotiations between Nigeria and other countries, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has given approval for the establishment of a central office.
The Council also approved the introduction of new International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) otherwise called Yellow Card for the country.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Wednesday edition of the meeting chaired by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okey Enalemah said that the establishment of the central office was necessitated by the irregularities observed in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in trade related matters with investors.
Enalemah who spoke alongside the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole and the Minister of Transport, Chibuike Ameachi stated that the trade office would work hand-in-hand with the Economic Management Team (EMT), while his office would champion the processes.
Amaechi said the council also approved a consultant that will be saddled with the responsibility of supervising the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan railway.
The minister said the same consultant had also been approved to supervise the Kano-Kaduna Railway once the contract is awarded.
He, however, did not disclose the identity of the approved consultant.
“Two memos were approved from for the Ministry of Transportation. Cabinet has approved that we commence negotiations after we submitted the Outline Business Case that was submitted by General Electric.
“The transaction advisors will now commence negotiations with GE to conclude concession of the narrow gauge which starts from Lagos to Kano to Funtua, Kaura-Namoda and then from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri which includes Aba, Umuahia, Enugu, Makurdi, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe unto Maiduguri.
“The next memo that was approached has to do with the consultant that will supervise the construction of Lagos-Ibadan railway and when we award the Kano-Kaduna railway, the same consultant has also been approved,” he said.
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