FEC approves N458m to hire Malaysian firm for economic growth plan, N27.2b for Gombe-Biu road

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N458 million for the payment of consultancy services to a Malaysian firm to facilitate the review of its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) for a period of three months.

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, who gave the indication yesterday while briefing State House Correspondents after the FEC meeting, said the amount covers the cost of retaining the Malaysian consultants to conduct some pilot labs for the country.

Udoma said the pilot labs were expected to assist the Federal Government in building additional local capacity for economic growth in different sectors.

He stated that the consultancy is part of government’s implementation strategy for the effective implementation of the ERGP.

Besides, the Council has approved N27.23 billion for a 117- kilometres (km) contract for the construction of the Gombe-Biu Road.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who gave the indication after the meeting, said the road, which connects Gombe and Borno states, also leads to Adamawa and Yobe states respectively.

Fashola said the entire road, which excludes the 9km already constructed by Gombe State government, is strategic and will support agriculture, as well as give access to Dadin Kowa hydro-power plants.

He said the road would help in the resettlement of the Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) and also aid in the provision of logistics and the movement of troops, especially during distress calls.

The minister said FEC also approved the revised Nigeria National Building Code, which is already eight years behind its scheduled date.

He stated that the code, which has national binding, was first delivered in 2006 and revised in 2009.