*okays N683 Toyota vehicles for NPA
By Chesa Chesa
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved N47 billion for the provision of 40 megawatts of electricity to be added the national grid.
The 40 megawatts would be evacuated from Kashimbilla Dam in Taraba State, where it is currently being generated, according to Minister of Power, Sale Mamman.
He revealed this to State House Correspondents while briefing them on the outcome of the first online meeting of the FEC chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari from the Aso Rock Villa.
The e-cabinet meeting was physically attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, new Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, Government scribe, Boss Mustapha, and Ministers who had memos to present while other Ministers participated from their offices, according to Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, who chaired the press briefing.
“The Council approved the Power Ministry’s memo for the revised estimated total cost for the augmentation of the subsisting contract in the sum of N47, 235, 303, 821.90, to provide additional critical power grid infrastructure for the full evacuation delivery and utilization of 40 megawatt, currently being generated form Kashimbilla, via Takum, Wukari and Yandev, to the national grid”, Mamman said.
He further noted that the additional 40 megawatts would boost electricity supply in Taraba and Benue States as well as the entire North-East region of the country; and that if the generated power was not evacuated from its source, Nigeria would lose about 120 gigawatts of electricity, equivalent to $9 million in a year.
Meanwhile, the FEC also approved a contract of N683 million for the purchase of 19 operational vehicles for the Nigeria Port Authority NPA.
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who disclosed this at press briefing after the meeting, said that it was the first time in four years that the NPA would buy vehicles.
According to him: “The Council kindly approved the sum of N683, 613, 000 for the purchase of 19 vehicles for NPA.
“This is the first time in four years that the NPA is buying any vehicle, that is why the Council considered and approved it.
“These are operational vehicles, not for management staff or any other thing. They are all Toyota.”
