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The federal government has approved the review of the Owena Dam Water Treatment Plant Project in Akure,

Ondo State, which
commenced in May 2007. An additional sum of N4.3 billion has been voted
for the project, increasing the total contract sum to N11.6billion.

The Minister of
information and communication, Dora Akunyili said this while briefing
journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting which
was initially chaired by Goodluck Jonathan, who later left to condole
with victims of the flood in Sokoto State, leaving Vice President
Namadi Sambo to chair the meeting.

Flanked by the
minister of state, Labaran Maku and the Minister of State for
Education, Mrs. Akunyili said a provision for Owena Dam Water Treatment
Plant Project has been made in 2010 Capital Budget.

“The contractor
commenced work in May 2007. However, due to foundation treatment,
changes in the final design and price escalation of construction
materials, the contractor requested for augmentation to the tune of
N4,703,236,922.69 to ensure completion of the project; but the BPP
reviewed the augmentation downward to N4,339,944,789.53” she said.

The council also
granted approval for the augmentation of contract for completion of the
Sabke Dam head work and access road project in Daura Local government
of Katsina State. The project was handed over to the ministry of water
resources by the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) in 1999.

Council approved a
total of N415 million as additional cost, increasing the total sum to
N1.2billion, with a completion period of ten months.

Mrs. Akunyili said there is an amended appropriation in the sum of N6billion in 2010 for the project.

Africa water council

The meeting also
approved the ratification of hosting Agreement and Domestication of the
African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) and authorized the ministry
of justice to prepare the instrument of ratification.

The African
ministers responsible for water had converged in Abuja in 2002 and
adopted the Abuja Ministerial Declaration on “water- a key to
sustainable Development in Africa” and had decided to establish the
African Council on Water. The secretariat is to be established in Abuja.

FEC also approved
the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of
Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses; and the Agreement
and Statute on Functioning of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).

Other approvals are those for Nigeria to sign the Convention on
Substantive Rules Regarding Intermediated Securities (also known as the
Geneva Securities Convention) as well as the Convention on the Law
Applicable to Certain Rights of Securities Held With an Intermediary
(the Hague Securities Convention).