By Ben Agande
Abuja— THE Federal Executive Council (FEC), yesterday, approved contracts totaling  about  N8.5 billion for the construction of two bridges in Edo State and rehabilitation of the Umuahia-Owerri road.

Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, who briefed state House correspondents after the meeting said the council also approved for award, the contract for  the procurement of two high speed boats for the Nigeria Customs to aid the service to in surveillance of the nation’s waterways and fight smuggling.

According to the  minister,  the council also approved  for the coordination of the acquisition and deployment of all Information Communication Technology (ICT) intervention by Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).

Speaking on the bridge contracts, the minister said they would be constructed  along Auchi Polytechnic-Ekperi-Agenebode road at a  cost of N1.3 billion  with a completion period of 12 months.

The construction of the bridge, Labaran Maku said, would create better access and help to alleviate the ecological problems in the area.

Minister of Works, Arch. Mike Onolememen, Mr Maku added, also presented another memo for the rehabilitation of Umuahia-Owerri road at the cost of N4.2 billion  with a completion period of 24 months, adding that the socio-economic importance of the road and its potential to reduced vehicle operating cost, travel time and accidents on the roads were some of the considerations taken before the approval.

The Information minister explained that the purchase of the speed boats  was necessary because of the increase in smuggling and piracy activities along the nation’s waterways.

He explained that the proposal for the purchase  which was submitted by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, also included  the provision of surveillance equipment for the boats and training of  personnel that would man them.