FG to build oxygen plants in Anambra, FCT, others

…Votes N5.6b for projects

ALL is set for the establishment of oxygen production plants by federal government in Anambra and others states as well as Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at an estimated value of N5.6 billion.

  Approval for the projects was made by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) during its weekly meeting that was chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

  Disclosing the approval while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the details of funding would be made available subsequently.

  Mohammed spoke to the media on behalf of his Ministry of Health counterpart, Dr. Osagie Ehanire.

  According to him, approval for the projects was made to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic that has made oxygen a very critical commodity since its outbreak.

  “The Minister of Health presented a memo, which was approved, for the emergency supply, installation and maintenance of oxygen production plants and construction of plant houses in each of the 36 States of the federation and Abuja. The contract was approved in the sum of N5, 615, 127, 479 inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT, in favour of four different companies, with a completion period of 20 weeks,” he said.

  It will be recalled that Anambra had established an oxygen plant to meet demands by hospitals for routine and emergency needs.

  Mohammed also disclosed that FEC also approved of N1.1billion for procurement of aviation security uniforms and accessories for use in various airports across the country.

  “Minister of Aviation got approval for the award of a contract for direct procurement for the design, manufacture and supply of aviation security uniforms and accessories. The sum total is N1, 127, 945. The unique thing about uniforms for the aviation industry is that it has some International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards that would be followed,” he said.

  The minister further told newsmen that Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs also got an approval of N864.7 million for two road contracts that were abandoned by previous administrations.

  “The Minister of Niger Delta got approval for Okpula-Igwartanta Phase I linking Imo and Rivers State, started in 2010. He got an approval for a variation of N620, 763, 000. He also got approval for erosion flood control on Ndemili-Utagba-Onitsha road in Delta State, started in 2014. The council today approved N244 million to augment the original contract sum,” he continued.