The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N11.8 billion for procuring equipment and setting up a fire fighting trucks maintenance centre in Katsina State and an aircraft maintenance centre in Abuja.

Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika revealed this when he briefed State House correspondents at the end of the council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Stating that the ministry had battled issues with fire tender, he said past administrations shifted equipment back to Europe, where they are manufactured for refurbishment and brought back to the country.

”But the Buhari government decided that we should establish one of such centres,” he said. “The approval was for N7, 913, 949, 964, inclusive of 6.5 per cent Value Added Tax.”

The minister said when fully established, the centre would cater for aviation firefighting trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles.

According to him, with time, as the workers in the centre gain experience, the centre will go into the assembly of such trucks in Nigeria and eventually begin to manufacture such vehicles locally.

He added that N3,985,432,685 was approved to construct the building that would house the maintenance centre.

Mr Sirika also disclosed that the ministry got approval for the full business case for establishing a maintenance and overhaul facility in the country, where aircrafts would be maintained in Nigeria.

”This business case is for 30 years, and a consortium will carry out the work. They will be paying a fixed fee of 30,000 dollars in the first year with an annual escalation rate of three per cent payable annually and in advance,” he explained.

The council also approved N592 million for procuring an MRI diagnostic machine at OAU Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife.

The Minister of State, Health, Ekumankama Joseph, said the council approved N592 million to procure Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) diagnostic machine for OAU Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife.

He stated that the procurement had become necessary following poor services to patients suffering from ailments requiring thorough diagnosis.

According to him, the council, in its magnanimity, approved the purchase of the single unit 1.5 MRI equipment to replace the obsolete one of 0.2 which is no longer up to standard.

Mr Joseph expressed optimism that upon delivery and installation of the equipment, patients who go through pains travelling to access better health services would stay back and access them at their leisure.

“So, today FEC, in its wisdom, approved for procurement and supply of one unit A 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine and other accessories for the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, in the sum of N592,271,792.48. This is inclusive of 7.5% VAT with a delivery period of six months.”

 (NAN)