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FG okays 20 private varsities, releases N34b for 377 rural roads

By Terhemba Daka and Matthew Ogune, Abuja
04 February 2021   |   4:13 am
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, approved 20 new private universities in the country.

[FILE] President Muhammadu Buhari (right); Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja….

• Approves N35b for NEPZA power station, N1.3b for Lagos, Abuja airports equipment
• Honours Momoh, Wali at FEC meeting

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, approved 20 new private universities in the country.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said the universities will receive their provisional licenses from the National Universities Commission (NUC), which they will use for three years for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

The universities are, Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State, Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara State, Maranathan University, Mgbidi, Imo State, Ave Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State and Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano State.

The FEC also approved the Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State, Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River State, Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo State, NOK University, Kachia, Kaduna State and Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau State.

It equally endorsed James Hope University, Lagos, Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano, Capital City University, Kano, as well as Ahman Pategi University, Pategi and University of Offa in Kwara State.

Others are, Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa State, Edusoko University, Bida, Niger State, Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja, Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa State and Anan University, Kwall, Plateau State.

In terms of geopolitical spread, nine of the institutions are located in North Central, three in the South-South, two in the South East, five in the North West and one in the South West.

BESIDES, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Ikanade Agba, yesterday, disclosed that President Buhari had released N34b for 377 rural roads to be supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 266 rural communities across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

He stated this when he visited the Agadagba of Olodiama, Godwin Ogunyibo in his palace, during the inspection of the Igo–Ikpalla rural road project in Ovia North East Council of Edo State.

He said the road projects were aimed at ending post-harvest losses of agricultural produce, adding that the President’s decision to embark on the rural roads project stemmed from his concern about post-harvest losses suffered by rural farmers.

Speaking, Ogunyibo commended President Buhari for the projects, adding that the road will enhance the livelihood of Nigerians.

The FEC also ratified N35b for the building of power station by the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) in Akamkpa, Cross River State.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, said the contract awarded to Mutual Commitment Nigeria Limited, the station is to power the Calabar Export Processing Zone (CEPZ).

He said: “The contract sum is N35.4b and the contractor will finance 75 per cent of the project, amounting to N26.5b, while the NEPZA would finance 25 per cent with N8.8b.”

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, pointed out council approved categorisation of the Aluminum Smelting Company of Nigeria in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State as a power producing and strategic company.

Council also okayed N783.5m for the award of contract for procurement of two hydrographic survey boats for the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) by Ministry of Transportation to First Index Project and Services Limited.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the contract has six months completion period.

Mohammed, who stood in for the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Serika, said council approved contract for the design, supply and installation of PTZ long-range tarmac camera surveillance system at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for N1.3b.

MEANWHILE, President Buhari at the virtual meeting of the FEC in Abuja, directed members to observe a minute’s silence for former ministers of Agriculture and Information, Alhaji Alfa Wali, who died on January 25, 2021 and Prince Tony Momoh, who passed away on February 1, 2021.

Wali, who was a Kano State indigene, also served as Permanent Secretary in several ministries, including the Ministry of Defence, while Momoh, a veteran journalist and politician, served as Minister of Information and Culture during the General Ibrahim Babangida military regime.

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