FEC Approves Gas Master Plan Investor Road Show
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Aug 21, 2008, 12:21

In a move that would prop-up Nigeria’s achievement of its gas potential, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in its meeting of August 20, 2008 consented to the second step in the Gas Master Plan Investor Road show (GMPIR).

This is just as the Council approved a range of contracts covering power, education and mining totaling about N9billion.

Briefing journalists shortly after the meeting, the Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. John Odey, said the approval came just after the road shows conducted in Abuja, Lagos and Singapore which generated substantial awareness globally on investment interests in the gas sector both within and outside Nigeria.

The minister then explained that government is now ready for the investor-selection process, the investor pre-qualification and entity structure for the investment consortia.

It will be recalled that government had on February 13, 2008 approved a National Gas Infrastructure Master Plan, which involved a short-term gas supply strategy, adoption of the gas blue print and gradual migration of gas price for power generation to a commercial rate.

Mr. Odey further said that as part of efforts to boost power supply, FEC considered re-awarding contract for erection works for three transmission line projects located in the North-East and South-South geo-political zones of the country. The projects, to be completed within 15 months, were earlier abandoned due to inadequate funding.

The scope of the jobs include the construction of property fence, drainage, cable trenches, sub-station road network, control building, generator house and staff quarters among others.

The minister stated that the construction of two units of 150mva/33kva substation at Yola and one unit of 330kva line bay station at Gombe was awarded to MBH Power Ltd for N1.2 billion. In the same vein, the construction of 42kilometre 132kva single circuit line and five kilometre approach to Akure 132kv/33kv sub-station (132kv double circuit) was awarded to Dextron Engineering Ltd for N3.5 billion; while the construction of the 2nd Benin - Onitsha 330kv single circuit transmission lines was also awarded to it for N3 billion.

According to Odey, provisions have been made in the 2008 budget for these projects.

I addition, the contract for the construction of transformer bay and the refurbishment of a 330kv line bay at Onitsha sub-station and one 33kv line bay at Benin sub-station was awarded to Messr. MHB Power Limited at N467 million with a completion time of 25 months, while contracts for the provision of circuit breakers were also awarded to Pimtek Nig Ltd at a cost of N106 million with a supply period of 18 months.

Another approval granted was for consultancy services for the completion of the National library in favour of Messrs. Odeleye International Associates at the cost of N232, 820,419.4 million.

FEC also approved the award of the contract for the completion of a Senate building at the Gidan Kwano Campus of the Federal University of Technology, Minna , Niger State to the tune of N215.28 million, with a completion period of 32 weeks.

The University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State also got the consideration of FEC, as it approved the award of contract for the construction of its Faculty of Sciences Building Block B at the sum of N348.1 million. Divided into three parts, namely, building, mechanical/electrical installations, and laboratory furniture, the contract sum for these category is N230.2 million, N57.7 million and N60.1 million respectively.

Another contract brought by the Minister of Education, Dr. Aja Nwachukwu, which also received FEC's approval was for the completion of the extension hall of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife at about N106.1 million. It has a completion period of 24 weeks. The project is located within the main campus of the university.

FEC also approved the contract for the construction of General Studies Building (Phase 1) for the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Located at the permanent site of the university, the contract is valued at N61.7 Million and has a completion period of 24 weeks.

The FEC also approved contracts totaling N697.78 million for the reclamation of six abandoned mining sites across the country. The Communications minister noted that despite the economic gains made from mining various minerals from these sites, no effort was made to rehabilitate the mines.

The sites are in:

• Bukuru, Plateau State (N165.08m)
• Gwale, Kano State (N88.69m)
• Danboa, Borno State (N89.08m)
• Maiduguri , Borno State, (N107.42m)
• Alesi, Cross River State (N148.24m); and
• Enyimgba, Ebonyi State (N99.24m).

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