FG Approves N3bn For Purchase Of NCDC Laboratory Equipment

President Muhammadu Buhari led government has approved the sum of N3bn for the purchase of various laboratory equipment to be used by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.

The development was disclosed on Wednesday, March 17 by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire while speaking after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

Naija News understands that the Ministry of Health had presented a memo on behalf of NCDC public health laboratory specialist and for the Centre for Disease Control.

A part of Ehanire’s statement made available to newsmen reads: “It is for six contracts for laboratory equipment and the total worth of N3,070,892,988 for various equipment and supply, to strengthen the work of NCDC in various parts of the country, to be more ready for the work they do in diagnostics preparedness, not only for COVID-19 but for any other disease outbreak of public interest in the future.”

On his part after the FEC meeting, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the council approved the revised estimate total cost of the Enugu-Onitsha Highway which is N8.65bn.

“Variation was to cater for the change of the pavement surface, the binder course and the wearing course to increase thickness and also to utilise modified bitumen and also to strengthen the shoulders and some bridge works,” the Minister noted.

He added, “Council approved the variation of N8.649bn in favour of Niger Construction.”

Speaking on the maiden master plan of the National Integrated Infrastructure, the Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, said a council has approved a memo on the reviewed NIIMP 2020 to 2043.

He said, “The maiden Master Plan was from 2014 to 2043 and embedded in it as a living document is that it ought to be reviewed every five years. There are about seven asset classes that are contained in the master plan.

“This is in the areas of transportation, energy, ICT, agriculture, water and mining, social infrastructure, housing and regional development, security and vital registration.

“The maiden edition didn’t have the macroeconomic framework embedded in it but with the reviewed update that has been approved today by the council, it includes macro-economic framework.

“It also allows for the establishment of the National Council on Infrastructure under the Chairmanship of the Vice President to provide policy direction and infrastructure-related materials.”

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has been charged to immediately declare bandits terrorizing different parts of the nation as terrorists.
The call was made by the National Youth Council of Nigeria, (NYCN) who noted that the move will effectively curb their activities, Naija News reports.