THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) Wednesday approved the request from the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Chief Festus Odimegwu, for purchase of 40 new utility vehicles as part of the grand preparation for the 2016 head count.

The vehicles are expected to be bought strictly from a Nigerian firm, Innoson Auto Manufacturing Company, based in Nnewi, Anambra State.


The Council also approved the contract for the supply of water to the Abuja Technology Village (ATV) and the surrounding settlements like Galadimawa to the tune of N2.18 billion, while another N436 million was approved for the design of engineering infrastructure for Kiami District, one of those to be opened as part of efforts to open up the FCT.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Information Minister, Labaran Maku, along with his FCT counterpart, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, and the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, said the approvals followed exhaustive deliberations on all the memos submitted by the affected ministers to the council presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan with the Vice President, Namadi Sambo in attendance.

Maku told journalists at the briefing that Jonathan would today in Abuja, be conferred with the highest National Honour of the Republic of Mali, in appreciation of the critical role played by Nigeria and its leaders in the return of democracy to the country, whose president just emerged. He said the out-going President of that country, Prof. Mouse Troure, would be in the Nigerian Abuja to confer Jonathan with the honour.

According to Maku, the preference for Innoson motor company was part of the desire of the president to promote the patronage of local entrepreneurs with a view to creating jobs for the teeming Nigerian youth, in addition to boosting the nation’ economy.

While he did not disclose the actual cost of the vehicles, promising to make it available to journalists at a later date, the minister assured that the award of the contract followed due process in line with the transparency and accountability drives of the Jonathan-led administration.

According to him, “ Innoson is being targeted to come into play in the course of helping the economy to grow in quality ands give Nigerians more jobs while encouraging the use of local materials to support the local and indigenous technologists.”

Wike said the Federal Ministry of Education decided to procure additional books to be used in the public primary and junior secondary schools across the country as a follow up to the ones already distributed to the schools . It is expected to be supplied in about six weeks from the date of awards.

Justifying the huge investments in the purchase of primary schools textbooks and library resource materials, Maku said the recent improvement in the performance of Nigerian students in public examinations was heart-warming.

For instance, he said the 39 percent pass last year to 64 percent of candidates that got five credits and above pass in the recently released West African Secondary School Council Examination (WASSCE) was an indication that the investments in that sector are paying off.

According to Maku, “after deliberations, Council approved award of contract for the design of engineering infrastructure and production of tender documents for Kyami District (Zone a) Phase V, FCC, Abuja in favour of Messrs Net Engineering Limited in the sum of N131, 938,632 with completion period of 16 weeks.

“Council also approved the award of contract for the design of engineering infrastructure and production of tender documents for Kyami District (zone B) Phase V, FCC, Abuja in favour of Messrs Ben Mose and Partners in the sum of N162,481,872 with a completion period of four months.

“Council further approved the award of contract for the design of engineering infrastructure and production of tender documents for Kyami Fistrict (zone C) Phase V, FCC, Abuja in favour of Messrs Vasons Concept Consultants Limited at N131,938,632 with completion of period of four months.”

The minister added that “the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in line with its mandate of providing potable water supply to residents of the FCT is desirous of extending water supply through a section of loop 5 to the ATV, including some private developer housing estate.

“It is in view of the above that the minister of FCT tabled another memo before the council. After deliberations, council ratified the president’s anticipatory approval for the award of contract for the extension of Water Supply to Abuja Technology village (ATV) and some private developers’ housing estates in favour of Messrs Mecca (Nigeria) Limited, in the sum of N2,138,581 830.00 only with a completion period of four months.”

On the defence pacts, Maku said “The minster of state for Defence, sought the ratification for the implementation of the signed Bilateral Agreement between Nigeria and Niger Republic and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Nigeria and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

According to Maku, the
preference for Innoson motor
company was part of the desire
of the president to promote the
patronage of local entrepreneurs
with a view to creating jobs for
the teeming Nigerian youth, in
addition to boosting the nation’
economy.

olabukola: This SUV is not bad, can somebody tell me the price to have one and efficient it is please.

Demdem: Just 40? Rubbish.
Will take the Retardeen serious when he replaces those S class in Aso Rock with innosun.
If retardeen uses innosun, who is that minister or govt official that will use even Toyota? That alone is enough to energize the company much more.
The German chancellor will always be on German machine, why can't we emulate that.

ak47mann: 1.3 MILLION FOR STANDARD ONES 1.8 FOR FULLY LOADED ONES

Demdem: Just 40? Rubbish.
Will take the Retardeen serious when he replaces those S class in Aso Rock with innosun.
If retardeen uses innosun, who is that minister or govt official that will use even Toyota? That alone is enough to energize the company much more.
The German chancellor will always be on German machine, why can't we emulate that.

akpanoka: The man has started on a good note. From the Population. Commission, it will gradually creep into other sectors. For us to grow, we must look inward and patronize our locally manufactured products. Good one.

Arosa:

Maybe innosun should be proactive and send a free one to the president.

ochejoseph:
I pity just this guy he simply has no Brains ,anything Jonathan you must castigate no matter how laudable, one way traffic ! Back off !!!!

billante: GEJ keeps winning the hearts of South east! other parties are just going to waste their time coming to south east to campaign in 2015.....we are ok with fresh air till an igbo president materialize.

billante: GEJ keeps winning the hearts of South east! other parties are just going to waste their time coming to south east to campaign in 2015.....we are ok with fresh air till an igbo president materialize.

billante: GEJ keeps winning the hearts of South east! other parties are just going to waste their time coming to south east to campaign in 2015.....we are ok with fresh air till an igbo president materialize.

simpleseyi:

Nigeria will never ever have an Igbo president. Never ever, read my lips. Hausa/Fulani will never vote for you neither will Yorubas. You can be president of your Biafran republic.

Tolexander: if they really wanna promote the patronage, why don't they order the presidency and the federal parastatal to change their official cars to innoson manufactured cars.
STFU douchebag..If you dont have anything reasonable to say,why not shove ur brain into your rectum were it belongs. What else do we expect from a skank like you.

The annoying part of this is that none of them is gonna drive or be in these cars they wanna purchase from innoson.

INNO18: pls sell ur mediocrity to the akara vendor by the junction...Winning who's heart? If he truly wants to win our hearts he should begin by constructing the 2nd Niger bridge which only a few months ago we read that '' works had begun on it'' yesterday i was in onitsha and saw absolutely nothing there...just by the side is the 'river port' as idle as Gej left it...the only thing he's achieved so far is a 3rd class but manageable airport in Enugu. we still have the worst federal roads in the federation, the ones being constructed are done at snail speed. Yet Igbos praise and buttlick Jonathan the most!...Igbos! We're so Gullible! tUFIA KWA!

simpleseyi:

Nigeria will never ever have an Igbo president. Never ever, read my lips. Hausa/Fulani will never vote for you neither will Yorubas. You can be president of your Biafran republic.

Eko Atlantic: Good development. I'll try one someday if I'm guaranteed of the safety.



Must you wait for the federal government to build necessary infrastructures for you? What's preventing the states involved in constructing the bridge from their own pocket and request for the refund from the FG.
The states involved, Delta and Anambra state are both oil producing state.
This bridge is not up to 1.5KM.

Akwa Ibom has constructed and constructing tens of federal roads.
Osun state is #5 in the SW as per riches, yet she's constructing federal roads of about 45km.
Lagos is making a three lane on both sides of Ketu-Ikorodu(mostly water logged areas) with enough bridges, yet it's a federal road.
Rivers is not left out.

Try to be independent for once.

ochejoseph: Buy NIGERIA create JOBs ,The President is focused on turning Nigeria in an industrial and technological Hub,our GDP is threatening to dwarf SAs,our Aiports are Better ,Few years ago we were no where to be found
Now our technology is advancing , ,Nollywood is representing ,our musicians are topping the
charts ,the Nations cup is back to were it
belongs we are not yet there yet(electricity Roads etc ) but we have
indeed woken up from slumber despite the security Buby traps
.God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

billante: GEJ keeps winning the hearts of South east! other parties are just going to waste their time coming to south east to campaign in 2015.....we are ok with fresh air till an igbo president materialize.