The Federal Government has approved N449.9 million for the engagement of consultants for the development of masterplan for 17 airports in the country.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, made this known while speaking with State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, May 10.

Shehu listed the airports to include Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Port Harcourt International Airport; and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

Others are the airports in Imo, Edo, Enugu, Borno, Adamawa, Cross River, Oyo, Sokoto, Kwara, Ondo, Plateau, Kaduna, and Katsina states.

Shehu said that the council also approved post-contract consultancy amounting to N3.4 billion for the construction of the second runway and associated facilities at the Abuja airport.

The presidential aide said contracts were also approved for the Ogoni remediation in Rivers.

He said: “Two major contracts were approved for Ogoniland, Rivers, and you know, Ogoni is one of the flagships of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s admmistration.

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“There are water projects that have been awarded under the second phase amounting to N22.8 billion.

“Approval was also given for award of contract for the remediation of newly identified hydrocarbon impacted sites along the shoreline of Ogoniland for N107 billion.”

Shehu stated that the FCT also got quite a number of approvals including contract for the full-scope development of the Shehu Shagari Way for N91 billion.

He added: “Another one is for the rehabilitation of the Rubochi township roads and the rehabilitation of Rubochi-Gwagwalada in FCT for about N5.7 billion.

“Council also approved contract for the construction of 3.2 kilometre road to Kwali Bridge in Kwalli Area Council of the FCT for about N1.6 billion.

“Another FCT contract is for the revised estimated cost of the contract for the provision of engineering infrastructure at Guzape District lot 11 in the FCT and the contract sum is N28 billion.

“And the fifth approval for FCT is for revised estimated total cost/augmentation of the contract for the provision of access road to Kabusa Garden Estate, Dako District in FCT and this is for N6.6 billion.”

Shehu said approvals were also made for the Ministry of Works for the rehabilitation of several roads across the country.

He said the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning also had approval for the construction of the FIRS multi-storey office complex at Agidingbi Training School, Ikeja, Lagos, for N10.3 billion.

“Finance Ministry also had approval for the construction of Zone B Headquarters of the Nigeria Customs in Mando and Afaka in Kaduna,” the presidential spokesman added.

He disclosed that the Ministry of Interior also got approval for the establishment of the National Institute for Domestic Security in Irogbo-Ilesa, Osun State.

“This is for research and capacity development of paramilitary agencies and other relevant stakeholders both within and Nigeria.

“This is to guarantee a peaceful and secure nation, with a budgetary provision of N285 million in 2022 budget and N360 million in 2023 budget,” Shehu said.

The Star