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By Nasir Kura
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved a contractor-financed N14.7 billion business plan for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Biometric Cards intended to replace the current ECOWAS Travel Certificate.
Minister of Interior, Mr. Abdurahman Dambazzau, who disclosed this while briefing journalists at the end of the weekly FEC meeting in Abuja, said the project was a recommendation of the West African regional leaders since 2016.
He said the ECOWAS travel papers can easily be faked, hence the need for biometric cards expected to be issued to about 13 million persons over the next 19 years.
The minister said the project would be incorporate into the National Identity Number (NIN) to make it easier for Nigeria.
He said the project would help safeguard Nigeria’s borders.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Sulaiman Hassan, said the council approved two memos from the ministry on road constructs in three states.
He said: “The first one is the furnishing of the federal secretariat complexes in three states of the federation, Akwa in Anambra state, Gusau in Zamfara and Yenagoa in Bayelsa state at the cost of N3.48 billion.
“It is the duty of the federal ministry Power, Works and Housing to provide decent accommodation for federal agencies and other offices in various states of the federation to make their workings easier and more comfortable for better results. So, these there complexes have been completed and ready for commission before the end of the year.
“The council also approved the rehabilitation of some broken down bridges in the north east region that were destroyed by insurgents at the cost of N813,458,132. The first is on the road between Maiduguri, Dikwa and Gamboru, second is at the famous Limankara, there is a bridge there that links Maiduguri to Dama, Goza, Honk and Yola at the cost of N331.2 billion and the bridge in Gombe state at the cost of N304 million.
“The total cost of the bridges rehabilitation is N813,458,132. The contractor is the Army Corps of Engineers that have a limited liability company, Sappers Engineering Limited. Why we gave to Sappers Engineering is because of the security concerns, no civil contractor will want to go there.”
