Nigeria Content Online

The Ministry of Interior has generated
a total of N59.3 billion since the inception of the e-passport system
project, said the minister of Information and Communication, Labaran
Maku, yesterday.

Speaking after the Federal Executive
Council meeting which was chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, the
minister, flanked by the now-acting minister of Interior and the
ministers of Police Affairs and National Planning, Humphrey Abbey and
Shamsudeen Usman, respectively, said the money generated has gone into
the national treasury.

During the FEC meeting, which lasted
for about three hours, the council ratified the contract awarded for
the production of six million e-passport booklets and 3.5 million
wafers and laminate, to a total of N13.9 million.

“The minister of Interior, in
continuation of his programme to deliver e-passport as part of the
internationally agreed deadline of April this year to cross over to
e-passport across the world, today brought a memo to council for
ratification for the award of contract for the production of six
million e-passport booklets and 3.5 million wafers and laminate in the
total sum of N13,950,280,000 to Erin Smart Nig. Ltd.”

He said the company that won the
contract has been the one involved in the production of e-passports for
the Ministry of Interior since the inception of the e-passport system.

He also said the award of the contract
will help the immigration service meet the demand for e-passports for
Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.

“Also this contract involved
maintenance services for the entire e-passport infrastructure at home
and in about 53 e-passport centers domiciled in Nigerian embassies
abroad. This project has been on for some years on the public-private
partnership. Government does not budget for it at all; it is a
contractor-financed programme which indeed has been generating
resources for the Ministry of Interior.”

Developing the Niger DeltaMr Maku also
said during the council meeting that the Niger Delta received lot of
attention. In the first memo that came to the FEC, the NDDC gave
contracts for the construction of six key roads in the region. The
minister noted that the purpose of these roads is to improve
infrastructure in the region and enhance development in line with the
government priority of bringing development in the Niger Delta to a
level that is commensurate with the resources that the region has
brought to the nation.

“As part of the amnesty programme,
government has made it a key national priority to facilitate the speedy
development of the oil producing strata,” he said. Roads worth a total
of N20,978,585,691.74 were ratified by council. He explained that these
contracts had earlier been approved by the president but because of the
work and value involved, “traditionally, the council ought to approve.”

The roads to be constructed as part of
this package include Ididep Ikot Odiong Ikot Ibiono Road, as well as
the construction of roads and a major bridge in Akwa Ibom State.
Erosion control project in Ibiono Ibom also in Akwa Ibom state. The
third road construction project is the road from Ayan Ikot Ikpayak to
Ikot Offiong, and Ikot Enine to Ikot Iboanam, also in Akwa Ibom State.
The fourth is the construction of Ama Oboke Eze Ofia Isu Nzerem Ikpe
Road in the Isiokwe Ehime Mbano local government area in Imo State.

The fifth road to be built is the Asa
Obile Road also in Imo State, and the last is the Mbiama Junction West
road in the Igbogene Ahoada West LGA of Rivers State. The roads are
expected to be completed at various period ranging from one to two
years.

The minister said the second memo was
presented by the president on the ratification of contracts for
infrastructure projects in the Niger Delta. “The total cost of project
is N27,560,764.525. Again, these projects that range from roads
construction to hospitals are allocated in various part of the Niger
Delta,” he stated.

The projects include: the construction
of Afia Nsit Ikot Mbang Road in Akwa Ibom State; the Ibaka Bati Jetty;
and Ibak Ikot Akoedo Ibom Ikot Road located in Akwa Ibom State. In
Bayelsa State, construction will commence on two 50-bed coastal
hospital complexes at Ekowe and Ekeremo, as well as the Akogbene Esama
Ogbenama road. Imo State will receive funding for the Ughelli flood
remediation, the construction of the Oguta Lake bridge, and the
construction of the Umudike international drainage system. Finally,
construction in Rivers State will comprise of Kula International Road
and the construction of Akujagu Ama forestry protection.

“These projects on completion are expected to add value to the Niger
Delta development area in terms of provision of infrastructure and
improvement in health and medical services in the region. Also, it is
expected to generate thousands of jobs for the youth, especially those
that have joined the amnesty programme as well as other unemployed
youths across the Niger Delta region,” Mr Maku said.