…Okays N656m N-power training, N202.6m dams in Katsina, Plateau
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday approved N52 billion for e-border solution to monitor the country’s porous borders.
The council also approved N652,318,104 for the training and starter packs for 1,500 N-Creative trainees in the northern states and N325,489 million for 2,000 beneficiaries for the southern states as well as N202.6 million augmentation for the completion of Ingawa dam in Katsina state and Mangu dams in Plateau state.
Minister of Interior Mr Abdulrahman Dambazau, who briefed journalists at the end of the weekly FEC meeting, said the N52 billion contract covers 86 border posts and all the 1,400 illegal routes being used for smuggling and other crimes.
He said the pilot system has already been installed at two border posts, stressing that information on the system would be available real-time 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
“When we came, I made the observation that our borders are very porous and diverse and that it is impossible to man these borders physically. Therefore, there is the need for modern technology to be able to monitor our borders. We also thought of the capacity to respond to emergencies at the borders.
“It is on this note that I presented a memo today for this eBorder solution. This process started in 2012 but we picked it up to move forward when we came in. The project is to be completed within the next two years and it will cost about N52 billion.
“There is a pilot project already which has been very successful, it was installed to monitor two borders. This project is going to cover 86 border posts in the country. We will be able to also monitor 1,400 illegal routes that are used for smuggling and all kinds of cross border criminal activities.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service will work very closely with other services. When it comes to response, with the air force and the army units deployed near the borders, with the customs in terms of smuggling. The information will be available real-time 24/7,” he said.
Also speaking, Minister of Budget and National Planning Mr Udoma Udo Udoma said the council approved N652,318,104 for the training and starter packs for 1,500 N-Creative trainees in the northern states and N325,489 million for 2,000 beneficiaries for the southern state’s under the National Social Investment Programme (SIP).
Minister of Water Resources Mr Suleiman Adamu said the council also approved N202.6 million augmentation for the completion of Ingawa dam in Katsina state and Mangu dams in Plateau state.
