The Federal Government on Wednesday approved a 59-million-dollar (N9 billion) contract for the construction of Berth 21 at the Terminal ‘E’ of the Lagos Port Complex in Apapa.
Also approved was a contract for the construction of the Inland River Port at Makurdi at the cost of N3 billion.
These were some of the outcomes of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The supervising Minister of Information, Mr Nurudeen Mohammed, briefed State
House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting alongside his transportation counterpart, Sen. Idris Umar.
Joined in the briefing were the Ministers of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen; Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, and Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga.
Mohammed explained that the approvals of the contracts were based on a memo presented to the council by the Minister of Transport.
The Lagos port contract, according to him, was awarded to Greenview Development (Nigeria) with a completion period of 18 months.
“Council deliberated extensively and particularly noted that the project, upon completion, is expected to add 200 metres of Quay length to the existing 510 metres, thereby increasing the total terminal quay length to 710m for the handling of Dry Bulk Cargoes.
“The project will also provide direct and indirect job opportunities as well as enhance government revenues and having more efficiency and economy of scale which will lead to better pricing of bulk commodities such as cement, grains and sugar in the long run.
“Council approved the award of contract for the construction of the project within the unexpired term of the company’s concession period of 25 years on Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) basis, with a completion period of 18 months.”
The minister said that the Inland River Port project in Makurdi was awarded in favour of Evomec Global Services Limited with a completion period of 18 months.
He said that there was a provision of N600 million in the 2014 budget for the project, adding that the balance would be provided for in subsequent budgets.
“The Minister of Transport also presented another memorandum to seek council’s approval for the construction of the Inland River Port at Makurdi.
“The project will link the hinterland in the northern central states of the country to the coastal ports and among other things ease the process of evacuation of agricultural products, petroleum products, bulk cargoes and distribution of essential imports.
“The project is also to generate employment, expand riverine activities and greatly improve socio-economic development of Benue State and its environs.”
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