FEC Approves $2.81bn, N4.96bn For Railway Services, NECO Projects

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved $2,810,574,064.92 for the Ministry of Transportation for the procurement of rolling stocks and other operational and maintenance equipment for the Ibadan to Kano and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri rail lines.

It also approved a printing contract for the National Examination Council (NECO) to the tune of N4,965,986,573.89.

Speaking to State House Correspondent after the week’s virtual FEC presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister of Transportation, Hon Chibuike Amaechi, said the contract was necessary for the smooth running of the rail lines.

According to him: “I have an approval of the cabinet to procure rolling stocks, operational and maintenance equipment for the new railway projects corridors in Ibadan to Kano standard gauge and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri narrow gauge rail lines to the tune of $2,810,574,064.92, including 7.5 per cent tax.

“Rolling stocks are consumables for the maintenance and operation of the railway. So, currently, anytime you hear of break down, which was discussed in the cabinet, it’s because maybe we have run out of rolling stock and we’ve also run out of stock for the railway.

“So, with this, we will replace all the rolling stock. They are essentially the consumables we use to maintain the trains, coaches and locomotives”, he explained.

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said the Council approved a contract that would enable NECO print materials that are to be used for Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) at the cost of N4,965,986,573.89.

“Today, the memo we presented from the Ministry of Education is a printing contract by NECO for the senior school certificate examination and the beneficiaries are nine contractors and the amount is N4,965,986,573.89. And it will be completed in eight weeks. And it is for the printing of sensitive, non-sensitive equipment and other ancillary equipment for the examination,” he said.