FEC approves N10.7 billion for 10 new rice mills as roads get N68.688 billion

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a total of N10.7 billion for the establishment of ten new rice mills across the six geo-political zones of the country. Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, disclosed this yesterday while briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Lokpobiri, who was joined at the briefing by the ministers of Water Resources, Health, Power, Works and Housing as well as the Senior Special Assistance to the President on media and publicity, Garba Shehu said the new Rice Mills would be handed to private sector operators through a due diligence selection process.

The Rice Mills which are expected to be set up in Ogun, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kogi, Kaduna, Niger and Bauchi states have each, a milling capacity of 100 tonnes per day.Also, council yesterday announced the approval of N4.578 billion contract for the construction of Subaila-Falala-Bini-Baku-Bauchi roads that connects Kano and Bauchi State.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola who briefed newsmen disclosed that FEC presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday also gave approval for additional works on 43.6 kilometer section one of the Lagos-Ibadan express way‎ at the cost of N64.108 billion. He said the contract will cover the construction of pedestrian bridges, toll plazas among others so as to accommodate the changing nature of the road.

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole said council approved N840.817 million for the construction of a trauma centre at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State. Prof Adewole said the project to be completed within 48 weeks, is expected to serve as a first class centre of care for accident and trauma cases along Port Harcourt, Owerri, Enugu axis as well change the dynamics of care in these areas.The minister said FEC also approved the licensing agreement between the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NAPRD) and May and Baker plc. 

Fielding questions on the ongoing strike in health sector, Prof Adewole said government has constituted a high level body to look into all aspects of the demand including the financial implications and also to plan for the management of consequences of addressing those demands. “That high level body met last week Tuesday, met again on Thursday, met on Friday, met on Sunday, and will also be meeting tonight (yesterday). 

“So we are really at work with respect to this we have done quiet a lot of computation, we have met with finance, we have met with budget and national planning. We are looking into all issues relating to this strike.“But let me also put it on record that when we came on board, the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) approached us that they have an agreement with government but we discovered that there was really no agreement with government.

“What they were able to provide were minutes of meetings held previously and we told them that no responsible government will implement minutes of previous meetings and of the fifteen points demands, we have met 14 of them over the one and half years. The only one left is currently meeting on.”

FEC also approved $460million for the completion of different construction projects at the Lagos and Abuja airports including passenger and cargo terminals awarded by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, who gave the indication said council also approved N10 billion to fight erosion in the country.