The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the execution of 44 infrastructural development projects for the nine oil producing states.
The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, disclosed this after the Council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House in Abuja.
The states are Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Imo, Abia and Ondo.
Mr Maku said that Council gave the approval following a memoranda presented by the Niger Delta Development Commission on a phased development of the oil-producing states.
“These infrastructural projects cut across road construction, construction of bridges environmental projects and a number of projects across the states of the Niger Delta, including Abia, Imo and Ondo, which are also oil producing states.
“The Executive Council took a look at the proposal; and we believe that approving these projects will accelerate the infrastructure development of the Niger Delta region as well as other states that have always suffer degradation as a result of oil mining,” the Minister said.
Though he did not give the contract sum of the projects, Mr Maku said they would be funded exclusively from the funds that accrue to the region through NDDC.
He said the approval would enable the Commission to expedite action in the execution of the projects at the exit of rainy season.
The Council also approved N13.3 billion contract for the provision of second phase of primary engineering infrastructure at Mbora District of the Federal Capital Territory.
Minister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, said the contract involved the provision of arterial and collector roads, telecommunications, power supply, drainage works, among others.
She said the project, to be funded from the statutory budget of the FCT, would enable plot owners to start development in earnest.
Mrs Akinjide said that the development of Mbora district, which is part of the third phase of development of the FCT, would help in decongesting the city centre.
