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| Last Updated: Jan 19th, 2012 - 11:25:19 |
Federal Executive Council
FEC approves citizenship for 82 aliens, approves procurement of ambulances for rural hospitals
Aug 19, 2010, 20:03
| | Nigeria has granted citizenship to 82 aliens.
The Federal Executive Council, at its weekly meeting on Wednesday, August 18, gave the approval.
Minister of State for Information and Communications, Mr Labaran Maku, who briefed newsmen after the meeting disclosed that a total of 136 people applied to the Advisory Committee on Nigerian Citizenship for consideration during its meetings on June 17 and 18 this year but that only 82 possessed the required credentials.
The minister said that out of the 82, 38 were recommended for citizenship by naturalization, while 44 (The Nigerwives) were recommended for registration by virtue of being married to Nigerians, adding that a total of 54 applications were stepped down due to inappropriate clearance report.
Council also approved the procurement of 63 ambulances at the total cost of N458.49 million.
The minister explained that the Ministry of Women Affairs was given the responsibility of supervising the ambulances and ensuring optimal and appropriate use and maintenance because the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Josephine Anenih, initiated the move.
According to him, each of the ambulances valued at N7.27 million are to be distributed to primary healthcare centres in each of the 20 states of the federation as part of the Federal Government’s efforts towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs.
The beneficiary states include Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Enugu, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Taraba, Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger, Nasarawa, Lagos, Kwara, Kano, Jigawa, Imo, Gombe, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT.
Mr Maku who addressed the press was alongside Mrs Anenih, noted that the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, launched the first phase of the scheme, which covered 16 states of the federation involving about 49 ambulances last month in Abuja.
Speaking, Mrs Anenih noted that maternal mortality in Nigeria is extremely high when compared to other countries and that it affects one of the country’s most significant developmental challenges and that the Ambulance scheme is in a bid to stem the unacceptably high infant and maternal mortality rate particularly in the rural areas.
She stated that in order to ease associated problems encountered during emergencies in child birth (and labour), the council approved the direct procurement of 63 Peugeot expert G9 ambulances and accessories for use in rural areas of the 20 states as part of the efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 5.
Mrs Anenih stated further that the ratification of the Child Rights Act was brought to the Council to ensure the protection of children, noting that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) bars the involvement of children in armed conflict, child trafficking, child prostitution and child pornography.
The women affairs minister disclosed that Nigeria is a party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which recognizes and guarantees children’s right to survival, development, protection and participation adding that the country signed the convention on September 8, 2000.
Council also approved the award of contract for the provision of project management services for Abuja Rail Mass Transit Project (lots 1and 3) in the sum of N1.3 billion.
The minister explained that the contract for the main project (lots 1and 3) was awarded sometime ago in the sum of $842 million (N126.25 billion) to a Chinese company, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) with a completion period of 48 months.
© Copyright 2012 nigeriafirst.org
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