By Emma Ogbuehi
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved ₦836 million for the establishment of oxygen production plants for COVID-19 pandemic intervention across the country.
This was disclosed by the Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed during a briefing with State House correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting on Wednesday. According to Mohammed, the proposal was presented by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire to the council.
Enahire, he said, also presented a memo seeking for an upward review for the emergency supply, installation and maintenance of the 38 oxygen plants all over the country.
The Minister recalled that in June, the Federal Executive Council, approved the sum of ₦5.615 billion to four major contractors for the emergency supply, installation and maintenance of 38 oxygen plants in various parts of the country, adding however that the firms companies also came back recently with the same complaints ranging from fluctuation in the foreign exchange and the scarcity of this plant over the world as a result of material all as a result of COVID-19.
The challenge, he added, made the Health Minister to present a memo for augmentation in the sum of ₦836 million that was approved.
The minister disclosed that the council also approved the revised estimate of costs and extension of the contract for the consultants supervising the Bagwai Water Dam Irrigation project from an initial sum of ₦98 million to ₦302.8 million.
He added, “The Bagwai Water Dam Irrigation project in Bagwai Local Government Area of Kano State was commenced; the initial contract was awarded in 2005.
“And due to several logistics problems, the project is still on and just recently, the FEC actually approved an augmentation of the entire contract and that means also that the mandate of the consultant supervising the construction would also have to be reviewed. So, now the total cost for the consultancy is ₦302.9 million.”
