The Federal Executive Council has approved N15 billion for constructing an access road linking the Benin-Asaba Expressway to the second Niger Bridge.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the council’s meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, in Abuja.

He hoped completing the road would help achieve the dream of inaugurating the bridge before May 29.

”We can tell you that the bridge itself is substantially concluded, but the contract awarded today, although the work has started before now, is actually to connect the Asaba-Benin end to the new bridge.

“The contract was awarded to Julius Berge at a sum of N15 billion. They have started the work, but they said it is only proper that they have a contract,” he said.

Mr Mohammed also disclosed that the council had approved N16 billion as a variation for the dualisation of the Suleja-Minna road in Niger.

The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, who also addressed the correspondents, revealed that the council approved €3.7 million as a contract variation for the Transition Company of Nigeria.

He said the amount was for the procurement of some equipment and to complete the construction of two sub-stations that would help boost the electricity supply in the country.

“The approved amount for the variation is €3.7 million plus N1.137 billion inclusive of 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax, with a completion period of 18 months.”

The minister disclosed that the contracts started in 2006 but were abandoned due to a lack of budgetary provisions.

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, also disclosed that the council approved six medium-term development plans for Nigeria, which will run from 2021-2050, dealing with various specifics.

He said, ”The broad objectives are to create a stable and predictable macro-economic environment.”

Mr Agba said the plans were developed in collaboration with the sub-national governments, the three main political parties, PDP, APC and APGA, as well as the organised labour, the youth and women organisations, religious bodies and traditional institutions.

The minister, who fielded questions from the correspondents, said the federal government was yet to conclude plans on palliatives that would cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.

Under the federal government’s 2022 to 2023 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, a proposal of N3.3 trillion was made for fuel subsidy between January and June 2023.

Mr Agba stated that a committee headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had been working with the National Economic Council (NEC).

(NAN)