Britain, Norway, Germany donate N1.210bn for safe school initiative

•ADB, Britain, Norway, Germany donate
N1.210bn for safe school initiative
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has
approved the award of contracts for the power
sector worth over N4.2 billion, in a bid to boost
the transmission of power in parts of the
country.
In the same vein, the government has
announced that friends of Nigeria (Britain,
Norway, African Development Bank, President
of African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka
and Germany) have donated
N1.210 billion in
support of the Safe Schools Initiative, launched
in May by United Nations Special Envoy, Gordan
Brown, during the World Economic Forum for
Africa, in Abuja, to provide safe and well
equipped schools for students in the states
affected by insurgency.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end
of the meeting presided by President Goodluck
Jonathan, Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu
Nebo, alongside the Minister of Information,
Labaran Maku and Health Minister, Prof. On­
yeabuchi Chukwu, said contracts approved by
the council include the contracts for the
construction of a 132 KV Transmission line and
the construction of two 132/33 KV substations,
both in Ifitedunu and Onitsha respectively in
Anambra State.
He said: “Council deliberated and approved the
award of contract for engineering design,
manufacture, supply, construction testing and
commissioning of Onitsha-Ifitedunu 132 KV
Transmission line in favour of Messrs Sinotec-
CCC international joint venture in the sum of
$5,992,974.24 payable at the prevailing
exchange rate at the time of payment plus
N1,141,865, 028.73 inclusive of N271,912,872.12
for 5 per cent Vat and 10 per cent contingency
with a completion period of 24 months.”
He said Council also approved the award of
contract for engineering design, manufacture,
supply, construction testing and commissioning
of 2×60 MVA, 132/33Kv substation at Ifitedunu
and 2x 132 line bays extension at Onitsha in
favour of Messrs MBH Power limited in the sum
of USD8,315,264.53 payable at the prevailing
exchange rate at the time of payment plus N864,
274,352.96 inclusive of N431, 852,916.28 for the
right of way compensation, 5 per cent vat and
10 per cent contingency with a completion
period of 24 months.
Maku said the launch of Safe School Initiative
for those in the North East was aimed at
harmonising resources to secure those schools
in those areas affected by insurgency, adding
that some friends of Nigeria had contributed to
the fund.