N5.7bn power project for Bwari, digitalisation of 67 High Court courtrooms, new police station for Wasa approved
The Federal Capital Territory Executive Council has approved the immediate completion of the long-abandoned Utako General Hospital and the comprehensive rehabilitation of all 14 general hospitals across the FCT.
The far-reaching decisions were taken at the 19th meeting of the FCT Executive Council, presided over by the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, and attended by the Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Hon. Chidi Amadi, disclosed that the council deliberated on 20 memoranda submitted by various Secretariats, Departments and Agencies, SDAs, describing them as critical to infrastructure development and improved service delivery in the capital city.
Providing insights into the health sector approvals, the Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, said the council gave the nod for the immediate renovation, rehabilitation and upgrade of all FCT general hospitals.
According to her, the intervention will include procurement of modern medical equipment, X-ray machines, diagnostic tools and comprehensive upgrade of theatre facilities.
Fasawe further revealed that Minister Wike has directed immediate mobilization to site for the completion of the Utako General Hospital, a project that has been abandoned for several years. She said the project will cover construction, full equipping and staffing of the hospital to make it functional.
She noted that the move is aimed at strengthening access to quality, affordable and efficient healthcare for all residents of the territory, adding that the administration has sustained prompt payment of premiums and capitation to health insurance providers and Health Maintenance Organisations, HMOs.
In the justice sector, the FCT Exco approved the full digitalisation of the FCT High Court across about 67 courtrooms in its various divisions.
The General Counsel of the FCTA, Mr. Salman Dako, explained that the project will deploy electronic court recording and digital case-management systems to replace manual documentation and physical filing.
He said the initiative will eliminate challenges associated with handwritten records and slow manual processes, with implementation to begin immediately and visible improvements expected within two weeks.
For the education sector, the Education Secretariat secured approval for two contracts for the supply of examination materials for pupils and students in public primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools across the FCT.
The Mandate Secretary for Education, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, said the approval is part of ongoing transformation of public schools through renovation, provision of classroom furniture and instructional materials.
He said the renewed confidence in public schools has led some parents to withdraw their children from private schools and enroll them in public schools.
On satellite towns development, the Satellite Towns Development Department, STDD, got approval for a N5.703 billion contract for the construction of a 33KVA power supply line from Dawaki to Tukulo and adjoining villages in Bwari Area Council. The project awarded to CGC Nigeria Limited has an eight-month completion timeline.
The council also ratified two completed and commissioned road projects. They include the Gaba-Tukulo Road with a two-span river bridge in Bwari Area Council awarded to Setraco Nigeria Limited at N8.219 billion, and the rehabilitation of the Paikon Kore-Ibwa Road in Gwagwalada Area Council, also handled by Setraco at N8.890 billion. Both figures are inclusive of 7.5% VAT.
The Department of Land Administration secured three approvals to boost its operations and revenue drive. Its Director, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, said the council approved procurement of utility vehicles and integrated ICT infrastructure including desktop computers, workstations, scanners, network switches, fibre-optic connections, data-centre servers and cooling systems. The council also approved printing of new customised revenue receipt booklets with enhanced security features to be handled by the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company to curb fraud and alterations.
Similarly, the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, secured six approvals, with its Overseeing Coordinator, Mrs. Mary Amina Ahmadu, saying the approvals will enable maintenance works especially on blocked waterways caused by indiscriminate refuse dumping.
The FCT Water Board also got approval for supply of powdered chlorine, High-Test Hypochlorite, HTH, for water treatment to prevent cholera, typhoid and dysentery, and for renewal of insurance for facilities at the Lower Usman Dam Treatment Plant.
In the area of security, the Director of Security Services, Adamu Gwary, said the council approved construction of a new Divisional Police Station at Wasa Informal Sector ahead of relocation of Apo mechanics and artisans. The project has a six-month delivery period and is part of plans to build two divisional police stations in each of the six area councils. He disclosed that stations at Ushafa and Saburi have been completed, furnished and handed over with six-man staff quarters
