Abuja (FEC Report) – The Federal Executive Council has approved the award of contract for the appointment of a Transaction Adviser for conversion of the Independence Building in Lagos to a National Trade and International Business Centre.
According to the briefing by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs I and Supervising Minister of Information, Nurudeen Muhammad (Dr) after the Council Meeting which held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Asokoro, Abuja on Wednesday October 22, 2014, the Council also considered the memorandum presented by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs for the award of contracts for the supervision of the construction of the Calabar-Oban-Nsan-Okoroba-Ajasor Road (Section I) in Cross River State and the construction of the Road / Drainage at Mbaise Ring Road intersecting Owerri-Umuahia Road in Imo State.
The Supervising Minister further explained that the project would enhance economic activities as it will create easy access to Oil Palm and Pineapple Plantations in the Southern part of Cross River State. Adding, the project would link up the Rolling Hills in Oban Community which had been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
In another development, the Supervising Minister of Information reported that at the Meeting held on Wednesday November 12, 2014, the Council graciously endorsed the need to notify the World Trade Organization about the commitments on Nigeria’s Trade Facilitation Agreement Category A Implementation.
Nurudeen Muhammad indicated that the Category A commitments includes the provisions which WTO member – countries should implement instantly without the required transitional period or technical assistance expected in July 2015 when the TFA is to come into force. He inferred that Nigeria is part of the Multilateral Trade Agreement which aimed at improving tremendously the business environment with positive implications on Nigeria’s GDP.
He told reporters that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced the new N100 Centenary Banknote to the Council to commemorate Nigeria’s 100 years as a united nation, saying the new note retained Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s portrait which reflect the element of Nigeria’s cultural heritage in the nation’s emblems.
“The Council considered and approved the upward review of the contract for the provision of engineering infrastructure at Wuye District in Abuja following a memorandum presented by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration. The contract will accommodate the construction of a Flyover Bridge at Wuye District, the Intersection of Arterial Road N1 / Ring Road 1 being Nnamdi Azikiwe Road as the project will ease the traffic congestion in and out of the District,” he pointed.
“Council approved the memorandum submitted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration for the award of contract for the construction of the Service Carriageway (14KM) in Inner Northern Expressway from Ring Road III to Ring Road IV Abuja Industrial Park as well as supported the memorandum and underscored the need for the development of infrastructure in the FCT to meet with the rising population.”
Muhammad reiterated the critical economic importance of the road to the region, inferring that the Council approved the contract for upgrading of the 15km East-West Road Section III: Port Harcourt (Eleme Junction) – Onne Port Junction Road in Rivers State. ‘The upgrade of the road, he said would reduce travel time and accidents, address the demand of PENGASSAN and NUPENG and deliver the Administration’s Transformation Agenda.’
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