Govt approves N278bn equipment to clear water weeds

Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the procurement of one water weed clearing multi-purpose equipment for N278.1bn.

The cost includes payable taxes, $1.3bn and additional N73.6bn.

The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, who stated this while briefing State House Correspondents after the FEC meeting, said the procurement was aimed at improving safety on the inland waterways.

He added that the equipment would aid navigation and boost economic activities in the various riverside communities across the country.

The minister said it would also rid the waterways of hyacinth and other aquatic weeds.

“The project will increase economic activities within the coastal areas and prevent boat mishaps. The project will create job opportunities for 15 skilled and nine unskilled Nigerians during the period of its execution,” he said.

Umar added that the council also approved the establishment of the Command Control Communication and Intelligence Centre for Sea Ports at the Nigerian Ports Authority.

He said FEC approved the project at the cost of N2.3bn with a completion period of 14 months.

Umar said the project would help in providing a secure environment for ports operations within the Nigerian territorial waters and in curtailing the threat of terrorist activities at the ports.

The project, according to him, will also create 145 job opportunities, including 33 for professionals and 77 for non-professionals during its execution as well as 35 more job opportunities as it progressed.
- The Punch