NIGERIA: FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECISIONS

The Federal Executive Council has approved 807 million naira for the training of 2,700 non-militant Niger Delta youths in ICT and agriculture.

The 500 non-militant youths would be trained in ICT at the cost of 258 million naira, while 549 million naira would be expended on the training of another batch of 2,200 youths in agriculture. The programme is to be implemented by the Ministry of Niger Delta in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

Minister of State for Niger Delta, Darius Ishaku, said the objective of the training was to engage the youth in viable business ventures.

Ishaku dismissed the insinuation that the Niger Delta youths being trained by his ministry were responsible for the reported cases of social unrest in the region. 

The Minister attributed the decreasing cases of kidnapping in the Niger Delta region to the various training programmes embarked upon by the Ministry for youths in the region.

Also today, the Federal Executive Council set up a three-man administrative panel of enquiry to investigate the alleged vehicle scam in the Aviation sector.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, said the committee will be headed by the former Head of Service, Isah Bello Sadi, while the National Security Adviser, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki and retired Air Vice Marshal Dike Erunebere will serve as members.

Dr Abati listed the terms of reference of the panel, which has two weeks to conclude its assignment.

You will recall that a 225million naira BMW bullet proof car scam is currently rocking the office of the Aviation Minister.

Similarly, the Federal Executive Council has approved 58.6 billion naira contract for the construction of ship building facilities and dockyard in Delta state.

Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, announced this to State House correspondents after the weekly council meeting presided over by President Jonathan.

Umar said the contract was approved to end the huge capital flight in the procurement of ships by Nigerians from outside the country. The contract was split into two; package one will cost N40.2 billion and package two will cost N18.4 billion.

He said package one of the contract would involve the provision of maritime equipments and structures, ancillary buildings and electro-mechanical works and facilities for the ship building facilities. 

The second package of the project, he said, would involve the entire civil works and the infrastructure works for the facilities