The rehabilitation of the Warri and Kaduna refineries, acquisition of 20 per cent stake in Dangote Refinery and the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal standard gauge rail line, are among the contracts approved yesterday by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Contracts worth $15.44 billion in the Transportation and Petroleum Resources ministries got the nod at the meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Other contracts were approved for Education and Power ministries.
Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed, said $11.2 billion was approved for the Lagos-Calabar standard gauge rail line.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva, said his ministry got approval on two memoranda, which included the award of $1.484 billion for the rehabilitation of both Warri and Kaduna refineries. A 20 per cent minority stake in Dangote Petroleum and Petrochemical Refinery will be acquired for $2.76 billion.
Besides the Lagos-Calabar coastal line, Mohammed said the FEC also approved funding for the Kano-Jibia and Lagos-Maiduguri rail lines.
Mohammed added: “Under the former administration, an approval was given, but was nothing was done, but today, the council has given approval to commence the Lagos-Calabar coastal route.
“This particular route is very important because after the Lagos-Kano route, this Lagos-Calabar coastal route, actually will link all the coastal cities in the country. The proposed route alignment is to go from Lagos to Shagamu, Shagamu to Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Ode to Ore, Ore to Benin City, Benin to Sapele, Sapele to Warri, Warri to Yenagoa, Yenagoa to Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt to Aba, Aba to Uyo, Uyo to Calabar, Calabar to Akamkpa to Ikom, to Obudu Ranch, with a branch line from Benin City to Asaba, Onitsha Bridge and then Port Harcourt to Onne Deep Seaport.
“This particular project is very important, especially for our coastal economy. The cost of the project is $11,174,769,721.74 and we have six years for complete this project.”
