[size=14pt]FG Awards N19bn Contracts for Education, Power, Railways[/size]
30 Nov 2011
By Ahamefula Ogbu


President Goodluck Jonathan

The Federal Executive Council Wednesday approved contracts worth N18, 679,008,074.36 covering purchase of books for primary education in major subjects, revival of railway lines and provision of gas for power stations in some parts of the country.

The meeting which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan approved completion of purchase of books in mathematics, English language and sciences across the country from primaries one and two to be coordinated by the Universal Basic Education in each state.

Also to complete the revival of the longest rail line across the country which runs from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri in Borno State, the Council approved the award of contract for the repairs of the communication line while it approved the purchase of air ambulance helicopter for use by the National Emergency Management Agency.

Briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, Minister of Education, Professor Ruqqayaat Rufai and the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Edem Duke said the approvals bordered on things that will improve the welfare of Nigerians.

The approvals has N13,803,249,526.56 and dollar component of $31, 456,506.76 while the approval of the payment of Nigeria’s contribution to the setting up of Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) for 76,538,000.00 Units of Account which represents 31.24 per cent equity in the bank.

The decision to provide books for primary schools in the country saw the Council approve 15 per cent of the 2 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for intervention to fund procurement of instructional materials to enhance quality of education in primary schools. So far primaries three to six pupils had been covered leaving primaries one and to now covered in this tranche.

“In order to sustain this laudable programme which aims at ensuring quality basic education in Nigeria in accordance with the Transformation Agenda of the President, and following a memo by the Minister of Education, Council approved the printing and distribution of English Language, Mathematics, activity-based science, Basic Science and Technology and Social Studies Textbooks for primaries one and two pupils, Library resource Materials for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) students in public schools nationwide by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for the sum off N6,638,349,049.00,” Maku said.

However, Ruqqayat was later to explain that it covers 34 states of the federation as Lagos and Bauchi States had provided for their schools for the same materials and therefore were exempted. She said a monitoring mechanism has been put in place to ensure the books and other instructional materials did not fund their ways into bookshops.

Maku said the contract for the provision of gas to Papalanto power station was revoked following a memo from the Ministry of Petroleum due to delays in the execution of the contract as the power stations in the area were nearing completion without the Messrs Taba Nigeria Limited making reasonable progress on it.

To avoid a situation where the plant would be hampered by lack of availability of gas, Council approved the revocation of the contract and its being re-awarded to Morpol Engineering services and Jihin Projects Limited for N1, 015,094,003.11 and $20,234,439.59 with seven months completion period.

Also the Minister of power also brought a memo to Council which sought for and received approval for reconductoring of the 132 KV lines that run from Itu in Akwa Ibom State to Calabar in Cross River State which currently carries 60 KV.

On completion through changing of the Aluminium Conductor Composite Core Reinforced Conductor, Nnaji said the line can carry 12 KV with the expected coming online of power plants in the area, pointing out that generating without evacuation was a waste.

The contract was awarded to Composite Technologies Corporation for $1,627,464.00 with 32 weeks completion period.

The approval for the Bell Search and Rescue Helicopter Model 429 DPIFR EMS said to be fitted with emergency medical facilities would be used to rescue people from accident points and save more lives by NEMA but would be available to the military services.
“After deliberations council approved the procurement of 1No Bell 429 DPFR EMS Configuration with special equipment and Bell Standard installed kits, avionics, specialized equipment, accessories and spare parts and emergency medical service configuration, in favour of Messrs Sea Jewel Energy Limited in the sum of $9,594,603.17 as foreign currency component payable at the exchange rate at the time of payment and N508,394,035.50 as the local currency component with a delivery period of 8 months,” they said.
To make the rehabilitation of railway transport national, the Council approved a memo by the Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar seeking for the rehabilitation of the communication line for the rail that runs from Port Harcourt trough Enugu, Makurdi to Maiduguri covering over a 1000 kilometres for it to become functional again.

“Following a memorandum by the Minister of Transport, council approved the design supply installation and commissioning of new signalling and communication solutions for the Easter line including two branch lies for the ministry of Transport and NRC, in favour of Messrs A3 & O/ANSALDO Ltd., in the sum of N5, 616, 459,436.22 only, inclusive of all taxes with a completion period of 14months.

“The project is aimed at addressing the challenges of the on-going rehabilitation of the Eastern Line and to conform to the latest technology and best practices in signalling and communication of rail lines,” the memo said.

The Council also commended the Minister of Culture for raising the benchmark of the Abuja Carnival and said that foreign countries have indicated interest in it due to rich cultural content and credited Edem with the success.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fg-awards-n19bn-contracts-for-education-power-railways/103997/

Awarding contract is the easy part. Let's see what becomes of all the spend-spend of Mr. Jons-a-thon!

CyberG:

Awarding contract is the easy part. Let's see what becomes of all the spend-spend of Mr. Jons-a-thon!

Didnt GEJ pass a law to award the payment ONLY upon completion of the contracts?
Is the law going to reflect on this contract?

Also the Minister of power also brought a memo to Council which sought for and received approval for reconductoring of the 132 KV lines that run from Itu in Akwa Ibom State to Calabar in Cross River State which currently carries 60 KV.

On completion through changing of the Aluminium Conductor Composite Core Reinforced Conductor, Nnaji said the line can carry 12 KV with the expected coming online of power plants in the area, pointing out that generating without evacuation was a waste.

Its all great news from Abuja today. Winshes go de vex!
Within 6 months, there should be further leaps in power generation and redistribution.

To make the rehabilitation of railway transport national, the Council approved a memo by the Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar seeking for the rehabilitation of the communication line for the rail that runs from Port Harcourt trough Enugu, Makurdi to Maiduguri covering over a 1000 kilometres for it to become functional again.

“Following a memorandum by the Minister of Transport, council approved the design supply installation and commissioning of new signalling and communication solutions for the Easter line including two branch lies for the ministry of Transport and NRC, in favour of Messrs A3 & O/ANSALDO Ltd., in the sum of N5, 616, 459,436.22 only, inclusive of all taxes with a completion period of 14months.

“The project is aimed at addressing the challenges of the on-going rehabilitation of the Eastern Line and to conform to the latest technology and best practices in signalling and communication of rail lines,” the memo said.

Next thing, AregbeRASCAL go claim am!
I think we are in for some truly exciting times, especially between now and January when the new budget kicks in and funds become available.

Ileke. . .what difference would it make if the contract is awarded to cronies anyway? When it comes to Goofluck issues no need to bother with any expectation of performance, probity and accountability.

CyberG:

Ileke. . .what difference would it make if the contract is awarded to cronies anyway? When it comes to Goofluck issues no need to bother with any expectation of performance, probity and accountability.

True.

Fresh money to send your kids abroad,

Beaf:

[size=14pt]FG Awards N19bn Contracts for Education, Power, Railways[/size]
30 Nov 2011
By Ahamefula Ogbu


President Goodluck Jonathan

The Federal Executive Council Wednesday approved contracts worth N18, 679,008,074.36 covering purchase of books for primary education in major subjects, revival of railway lines and provision of gas for power stations in some parts of the country.

The meeting which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan approved completion of purchase of books in mathematics, English language and sciences across the country from primaries one and two to be coordinated by the Universal Basic Education in each state.

Also to complete the revival of the longest rail line across the country which runs from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri in Borno State, the Council approved the award of contract for the repairs of the communication line while it approved the purchase of air ambulance helicopter for use by the National Emergency Management Agency.

Briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, Minister of Education, Professor Ruqqayaat Rufai and the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Edem Duke said the approvals bordered on things that will improve the welfare of Nigerians.

The approvals has N13,803,249,526.56 and dollar component of $31, 456,506.76 while the approval of the payment of Nigeria’s contribution to the setting up of Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) for 76,538,000.00 Units of Account which represents 31.24 per cent equity in the bank.

The decision to provide books for primary schools in the country saw the Council approve 15 per cent of the 2 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for intervention to fund procurement of instructional materials to enhance quality of education in primary schools. So far primaries three to six pupils had been covered leaving primaries one and to now covered in this tranche.

“In order to sustain this laudable programme which aims at ensuring quality basic education in Nigeria in accordance with the Transformation Agenda of the President, and following a memo by the Minister of Education, Council approved the printing and distribution of English Language, Mathematics, activity-based science, Basic Science and Technology and Social Studies Textbooks for primaries one and two pupils, Library resource Materials for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) students in public schools nationwide by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for the sum off N6,638,349,049.00,” Maku said.

However, Ruqqayat was later to explain that it covers 34 states of the federation as Lagos and Bauchi States had provided for their schools for the same materials and therefore were exempted. She said a monitoring mechanism has been put in place to ensure the books and other instructional materials did not fund their ways into bookshops.

Maku said the contract for the provision of gas to Papalanto power station was revoked following a memo from the Ministry of Petroleum due to delays in the execution of the contract as the power stations in the area were nearing completion without the Messrs Taba Nigeria Limited making reasonable progress on it.

To avoid a situation where the plant would be hampered by lack of availability of gas, Council approved the revocation of the contract and its being re-awarded to Morpol Engineering services and Jihin Projects Limited for N1, 015,094,003.11 and $20,234,439.59 with seven months completion period.

Also the Minister of power also brought a memo to Council which sought for and received approval for reconductoring of the 132 KV lines that run from Itu in Akwa Ibom State to Calabar in Cross River State which currently carries 60 KV.

On completion through changing of the Aluminium Conductor Composite Core Reinforced Conductor, Nnaji said the line can carry 12 KV with the expected coming online of power plants in the area, pointing out that generating without evacuation was a waste.

The contract was awarded to Composite Technologies Corporation for $1,627,464.00 with 32 weeks completion period.

The approval for the Bell Search and Rescue Helicopter Model 429 DPIFR EMS said to be fitted with emergency medical facilities would be used to rescue people from accident points and save more lives by NEMA but would be available to the military services.
“After deliberations council approved the procurement of 1No Bell 429 DPFR EMS Configuration with special equipment and Bell Standard installed kits, avionics, specialized equipment, accessories and spare parts and emergency medical service configuration, in favour of Messrs Sea Jewel Energy Limited in the sum of $9,594,603.17 as foreign currency component payable at the exchange rate at the time of payment and N508,394,035.50 as the local currency component with a delivery period of 8 months,” they said.


To make the rehabilitation of railway transport national, the Council approved a memo by the Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar seeking for the rehabilitation of the communication line for the rail that runs from Port Harcourt trough Enugu, Makurdi to Maiduguri covering over a 1000 kilometres for it to become functional again.

“Following a memorandum by the Minister of Transport, council approved the design supply installation and commissioning of new signalling and communication solutions for the Easter line including two branch lies for the ministry of Transport and NRC, in favour of Messrs A3 & O/ANSALDO Ltd., in the sum of N5, 616, 459,436.22 only, inclusive of all taxes with a completion period of 14months.

“The project is aimed at addressing the challenges of the on-going rehabilitation of the Eastern Line and to conform to the latest technology and best practices in signalling and communication of rail lines,” the memo said.

The Council also commended the Minister of Culture for raising the benchmark of the Abuja Carnival and said that foreign countries have indicated interest in it due to rich cultural content and credited Edem with the success.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fg-awards-n19bn-contracts-for-education-power-railways/103997/

A Bell 429 Helo (with EMS config) for over 2 Billion Naira (not including the 500 Million Naira local currency component) !!!!


NIGERIANS WE ARE FINISHED.

These politicians deserved to be hanged.

gabng:


A Bell 429 Helo (with EMS config) for over 2 Billion Naira (not including the 500 Million Naira local currency component) !!!!


NIGERIANS WE ARE FINISHED.

These politicians deserved to be hanged.

So Wikipedia listed the price of a Bell 429 as Approx $5M

At an exchange rate of N160 to $1, the price of a bell 429 = N800M.

I guess the "special configuration" and profit increasd it by N1.2B (without adding the extra 500M in local currency 

Is it impossible to buy this directly from Bell and eliminate the middleman costs? We want to save subsidy money and plug leakages, no be so?

gabng:


A Bell 429 Helo (with EMS config) for over 2 Billion Naira (not including the 500 Million Naira local currency component) !!!!


NIGERIANS WE ARE FINISHED.

These politicians deserved to be hanged.

It is a search and rescue / air ambulance for the army. In other words, it will come fully equipped with infrared and various types of radar and computer systems; that is aside from the emergency medical equipment it will also carry. It is quite reasonably priced.

The approval for the Bell Search and Rescue Helicopter Model 429 DPIFR EMS said to be fitted with emergency medical facilities would be used to rescue people from accident points and save more lives by NEMA but would be available to the military services.

Beaf:

It is a search and rescue / air ambulance for the army. In other words, it will come fully equipped with infrared and various types of radar and computer systems; that is aside from the emergency medical equipment it will also carry. It is quite reasonably priced.

Is there a database in place to support this?

The Railway contract is bougous and overbloated. The so called signalling equipments are not different from what obtains in the GSM sector and it would have costed a small fraction of that amount.
The signalling should have been outsourced to the private sector, a company like Helios with exisitng telecomms infracstructure would have done a great job.

9ja4eva:

Is there a database in place to support this?

I am not really sure if it needs any sort of elaborate database system, but I might be misunderstanding your question.

lagbaja:

The Railway contract is bougous and overbloated. The so called signalling equipments are not different from what obtains in the GSM sector and it would have costed a small fraction of that amount.
The signalling should have been outsourced to the private sector, a company like Helios with exisitng telecomms infracstructure would have done a great job.

Provide a simple breakdown, sir and then give counter-arguments. However I see no specific figures for rail mentioned in the article; I might be wrong though, and maybe you do. Please educate us, thank you.

He cant provide link to support that rubbish he posted. If they are buying search and rescue helicopter for 2.5 billion naira, then how much are they going to buy Apache?

I bet they have confuse Jonathan to think he's buying a space craft. Silver back gorilla aka drunken fisherman.

9ja4eva:


Is there a database in place to support this?

@Beaf.


To start with the Nigerian Railway Corporation have more than enough signalling capacity on t
hat route to the extent that they tried to sell part of it to the private sector
. They were not su
ccessfult because the stations are poorly managed and often without Diesel to power them. They have both VHF and microwave in all the repeater sites. They operate on 6GHZ radio links and the equipments comes cheap. A set of radio for a repeater costs less than $20k. They already have masts, base station equipments, generators, inverters. Name them.Now they are asking for another N6B. It is a complete f
raud.

@Beaf.


To start with the Nigerian Railway Corporation have more than enough signalling capacity on that route to the extent that they tried to sell part of it to the private sector. They were not successful because the stations are poorly managed and often without Diesel to power them. They have both VHF and microwave in all the repeater sites. They operate on 6GHZ radio links and the equipments comes cheap. A set of radio for a repeater costs less than $20k. They already have masts, base station equipments, generators, inverters. Name them.Now they are asking for another N6B. It is a complete fraud

lagbaja:

@Beaf.


To start with the Nigerian Railway Corporation have more than enough signalling capacity on that route to the extent that they tried to sell part of it to the private sector. They were not successful because the stations are poorly managed and often without Diesel to power them. They have both VHF and microwave in all the repeater sites. They operate on 6GHZ radio links and the equipments comes cheap. A set of radio for a repeater costs less than $20k. They already have masts, base station equipments, generators, inverters. Name them.Now they are asking for another N6B. It is a complete fraud

I understand that from your words, the radio for a repeater costs less than $20,000.00, but in order to be convinced, you need to provide a complete breakdown, account for every item in the quote below. Thanks.

“Following a memorandum by the Minister of Transport, council approved the design supply installation and commissioning of new signalling and communication solutions for the Easter line including two branch lies for the ministry of Transport and NRC, in favour of Messrs A3 & O/ANSALDO Ltd., in the sum of N5, 616, 459,436.22 only, inclusive of all taxes with a completion period of 14months.

Now I understand why people are critical of your objectivtiy.must u defend this charade at all cost ?. What breakdown are you looking when there wasn't even a need in the first. Is it about breakdown or the value dreviation from investment. They can choose to add whatever they like to the breakdown. The question is what is really neeeded ?. To start with, where are the rails to use them ?

lagbaja:

Now I understand why people are critical of your objectivtiy.must u defend this charade at all cost ?. What breakdown are you looking when there wasn't even a need in the first. Is it about breakdown or the value dreviation from investment. They can choose to add whatever they like to the breakdown. The question is what is really neeeded ?. To start with, where are the rails to use them ?

My guy, I am only asking you to defend what you have claimed. I can see that you cannot provide a breakdown, many people make serious claims that they can't back.
Thanks for your time, bruv.

Maku also announced the approval of a N5.61 billion contract for the supply and installation of new communications solutions for the eastern section of Nigerian Railway Corporation, in line with ongoing rehabilitation efforts and to conform with the latest technology and best practices in railway signalling and communications.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/12/fec-okays-n6-6bn-for-pry-school-books/

Usually, just a summary of the contract sum and scope of work is given after FEC meetings. BPP and budget office however publish quarterly breakdown of projects in major Nigerian dailies. The figures here (without the breakdown) kinda looks high for the said project- in my own opinion.

It is a search and rescue / air ambulance for the army. In other words, it will come fully equipped with infrared and various types of radar and computer systems; that is aside from the emergency medical equipment it will also carry. It is quite reasonably priced.

The details or breakdown of "specialized equipment" it will come with wasn't given. We can only guess that it will come with A B and C which will just be our opinion (without claim).

Wait, How come accessories and "add-on" equipment will now make the cost of a chopper which is originally designed as a medical rescue chopper be twice the average cost of the base configuration.

Nugwax:


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/12/fec-okays-n6-6bn-for-pry-school-books/

Usually, just a summary of the contract sum and scope of work is given after FEC meetings. BPP and budget office however publish quarterly breakdown of projects in major Nigerian dailies. The figures here (without the breakdown) kinda looks high for the said project- in my own opinion.


The details or breakdown of "specialized equipment" it will come with wasn't given. We can only guess that it will come with A B and C which will just be our opinion (without claim).

Wait, How come accessories and "add-on" equipment will now make the cost of a chopper which is originally designed as a medical rescue chopper be twice the average cost of the base configuration.

Those things you call add ons can cost much more than most choppers. Military equipment isn't cheap and search and rescue is a notoriously expensive area; the same goes for air ambulances. I am sure that is why we can only afford one search and rescue / air ambulance.

The above said, I would expect the most scrutinised area to be books for schools. At least, we all know what those cost.

The decision to provide books for primary schools in the country saw the Council approve 15 per cent of the 2 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for intervention to fund procurement of instructional materials to enhance quality of education in primary schools. So far primaries three to six pupils had been covered leaving primaries one and to now covered in this tranche.

“In order to sustain this laudable programme which aims at ensuring quality basic education in Nigeria in accordance with the Transformation Agenda of the President, and following a memo by the Minister of Education, Council approved the printing and distribution of English Language, Mathematics, activity-based science, Basic Science and Technology and Social Studies Textbooks for primaries one and two pupils, Library resource Materials for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) students in public schools nationwide by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for the sum off N6,638,349,049.00,” Maku said.

Education is finally getting quality attention. I wonder if the books would be passed on free or if they will be subsidised and sold for a token? Anyone know?

This contract for Education, Railway and power seems unrealistically low to me

N19billion =  $ 120million only (that is only the price of 2 Airline jets)

Remember that Obasanjo budgetted $16 billion Dollars for power alone (and stole the money  )

Mmm, Interesting, I just hope this is not another scam abi na scheme for some people to enrich 'emselves.

Talk is cheap

I know them. They(the ministers) are all rushing so their ministries will get approval for one large contract or the other, so they‘ll hv their own share of the national cake. I won‘t be surprised if these same contracts will be awarded again after four years by another administration. U can be sure the monies will be shared n the projects abandoned. It has happened a thousand times before!

This is a good development. Ride on mr president.

Lagos and Bauchi are exempted why so they lose out because the did something for their pupils already, I guess it better to do nothing in Nigeria, where is the incentives to do better in Nigeria, The better refund both Lagos and Bauchi their share of the educational fund, they can use it for other things like school structures, furniture, school library,

Just 19 billion Naira for all these. They could not fix just power for $10 billion, now they want to use this chicken change on all these projects. Na Juju them go use or are they just on crack?

lagbaja:

The Railway contract is bougous and overbloated. The so called signalling equipments are not different from what obtains in the GSM sector and it would have costed a small fraction of that amount.
The signalling should have been outsourced to the private sector, a company like Helios with exisitng telecomms infracstructure would have done a great job.

Guy if I were you I will be celebrating the textbook contract, because man you need to get yourself EDUCATED! Your English makes it difficult to believe any "fact" you roll out.

WRONG TITLE.

SHOULD HAVE READ, ''GEJ APPROVES FREEBIES FOR HIS OGAS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS''

Kilode?!:

So Wikipedia listed the price of a as Approx $5M

At an exchange rate of N160 to $1, the price of a bell 429 = N800M.

I guess the "special configuration" and profit increasd it by N1.2B (without adding the extra 500M in local currency 

Is it impossible to buy this directly from Bell and eliminate the middleman costs? We want to save subsidy money and plug leakages, no be so?

My Broda,

its even 1.4BN plus 500M local currency.

Beaf:

It is a search and rescue / air ambulance for the army. In other words, it will come fully equipped with infrared and various types of radar and computer systems; that is aside from the emergency medical equipment it will also carry. It is quite reasonably priced.

Beaf (Jona's Lap Dog)

Must you comment on issues you dont know about? The EMS is not a military helo. it will only be used when called upon by the military since it is to be use by NEMA. all the equipment will not account for the extra $4M.

Beaf:

Those things you call add ons can cost much more than most choppers. Military equipment isn't cheap and search and rescue is a notoriously expensive area; the same goes for air ambulances. I am sure that is why we can only afford one search and rescue / air ambulance.

The above said, I would expect the most scrutinised area to be books for schools. At least, we all know what those cost.

Education is finally getting quality attention. I wonder if the books would be passed on free or if they will be subsidised and sold for a token? Anyone know?

This beaf .

Your defending this rubbish is really apaling. Why u no go dey clean jona yansh. The Bell 429 EMS is not a military helicopter. its a normal civilian twin engined helo that is adapted (without any engine or avionics change) for Emergency Services (EMS)

See pics of what is being purchased