Minister for ICT, Mrs. Omobola Johnson
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) Wednesday approved contracts for erosion control in the South-east, provision of Information Technology in 387 schools across the country, completion of hydro dam in Taraba and remediation of sludge pits at Kaduna refinery and petrochemical company dumpsites at the sum of N33.13 billion.
The criteria for the choice of benefiting schools to be provided with computers and laptops were not disclosed. However, the Minister for ICT, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, said 100 classmate personal computers for students and 21 laptops for teaching, two printers and one server, broadband internet and 5kva solar power equipment would be provided for the schools.
She said that the equipment for teaching ICT across the country would be installed in nine schools in each of the 36 states of the federation, three in the federal capital territory and 10 additional schools in each geo-political zone. The equipment would also cover refurbishment and securing of equipment storage room, provision of wireless mesh and charging platform for each of the schools.
“Council approved the request in order to create a generation of Nigerians with a broad base of theoretical and practical knowledge of ICT on which they can leverage when they step into the labour market, in the cost of N16, 666 million and a total cost of N6, 449 billion with a completion period of 36 weeks each.
Asked where the funding would come from for the ICT in schools projects, Johnson replied: “The funding is coming from the universal service provision fund which is a percentage of the revenue of the GSM telecoms company.
The Communication Act of the USPF which gets contributions from telecom companies and other businesses in that sector so that services can be extended to undeserved and un-served areas in Nigeria.”
Also among the approved power projects was the variation for the upgrading of the hydropower component of the construction of Kashimbila Gamovo multipurpose Dam which would serve the purpose of irrigation, power and potable drinking water for parts of Benue and Taraba States.
The project, however, did not include the hydro component which was supposed to generate 40 megawatts with an augmented budget of N17, 69 billion with 36 months as completion period which was part of government policy for optimising hydropower generation. Council also approved award of contracts for the control of erosion and landslides in parts of the South East for N5.4 billion in Nanka in Aguata local government area of Anambra state, Sakamor/ Nwangene flood and dredging works, Obinagu/ Akpulu/ Enugueze-Umunneobagu in Enugu and channelisation of Iyi Okwu and Iyi udele stream in Ebonyi State.
“Breakdown of the projects are Sakamor/Nwangene flood control and dredging works in Anambra state in the sum of N1.23billion with a completion period of 18months; Nanka recent landslide control works also in Anambra state in sum of N1.111billion with a completion period of 12months; Obinagu/Akpulu/Enugueze-Umunneobagu erosion control in Enugu state in the sum of N1.482billion with completion period of 15months; and the channelization of Iyi Okwu and Iyi Udele stream in Ebonyi state in the sum of N1.544billion, with a completion period of 14months,” Hajia Hadiza Mailafia, the Minister of Environment said.
“Breakdown of the projects are Sakamor/Nwangene flood control and dredging works in Anambra state in the sum of N1.23billion with a completion period of 18months; Nanka recent landslide control works also in Anambra state in sum of N1.111billion with a completion period of 12months; Obinagu/Akpulu/Enugueze-Umunneobagu erosion control in Enugu state in the sum of N1.482billion with completion period of 15months; and the channelization of Iyi Okwu and Iyi Udele stream in Ebonyi state in the sum of N1.544billion, with a completion period of 14months,” Hajia Hadiza Mailafia, the Minister of Environment said.
Remediation contract for the sludge pit of the Kaduna refinery and Petroleum Company dumpsite and impacts negatively on the residents off the area who have said they were more concerned with the impact on the environment and safety than on compensation. The contract was awarded to Messrs Osprey Investments Group in the sum of N1, 811 billion.
Council also ratified the convention on the status of stateless persons which would give impetus to the United Nations Charter on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights so that everyone has a right to nationality.
“Every UN convention is relevant to all member states because in the first instance the idea is to ensure there is nobody in the world that does not have a state. And the convention enables the states to make possible under their laws the rules that will grant every person the right to statehood. And this is why you see in most state the make provision for citizens to naturalized, if for example you want to change your citizenship from Cameroonian to a Nigerian and you have lived in Nigeria for some years and the laws of the country has nothing against you, Nigeria should accord you the citizenship.
“If you are married to a non-Nigerian, the laws of Nigeria should not allow your spouse to be without a state, the law must allow your spouse access citizenship by registration.
All these process you see in our laws where every year we grant citizenship to those that have lived here and do businesses here is in conformity with this UN convention. It is relevant to us, it is relevant to all member of the UN and is relevant to the people world and Nigeria being a frontline African state that has contributed so much to the UN we feel it is not good for us to already have accented to this convention without ratifying it, it is just good for us”, Maku explained.
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