The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N495 million for installing scanners in all the railway stations across the country.

The FEC meeting was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, briefed State House correspondents after the FEC meeting on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mr Adegoroye said that the installation would strengthen security at the railway stations.

“We are starting the railways’ revolution; we are trying to put in place a lot of things in the railways; we don’t want people to come and damage all that government has been trying to put in place in that sector,’’ he said.

The minister said the second memo concerned the provision of towage services at the ports.

He said the Lekki Deep Sea Port was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari recently and that one of the statutory responsibilities of the Nigerian Ports Authority was the provision of marine services, being the regulatory agency in that sector.

He said providing towage was necessary for easy discharge of goods and ship berthing.

“Of course, there was the argument that why would the company that provides such services at Apapa Port and Lagos TinCan Island Port not do it.

“We think that it will overstretch that company, and because it would overstretch them, they will not be able to cope; they may not have the capacity to cope.

“Secondly, we want the Lekki Deep Sea Port and the Dangote Jetty to be able to perform maximally.

“So, FEC agreed with us and has given a 10-year concession to that company, Messrs Alcuff, to carry out towage services at the Lekki Deep Sea Port and the Dangote Jetty,’’ he said.

(NAN)