AT a virtual meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved N47, 918,916,821.90 for projects in the power and transportation sectors.

The Council gave the approvals to the presentation by the ministries of Power and Transportation, whose ministers were physically present and also addressed State House reporters subsequently.

The Ministry of Power got an approval of over N47 billion for the provision of additional 40 megawatts of electricity to the national grid, the Ministry of Transportation got an approval of N683 million for the purchase of 19 operational vehicles for the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).

Power Minister Sale Mamman told reporters that the 40 megawatts would be evacuated from Kashimbilla Dam in Taraba State, where it is currently being generated.

He said: “The Council approved the Ministry’s memo for the revised estimated total cost for the augmentation of the subsisting contract in the sum of N47, 235, 303, 821.90, to provide additional critical power grid infrastructure for the full evacuation delivery and utilisation of 40 megawatt currently being generated form Kashimbilla, via Takum, Wukari and Yandev, to the national grid.”

Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi said the approval given for the purchase of the 19 operational vehicles was the first time in four years that the NPA would buy vehicles.

Amaechi said: “The Council kindly approved the sum of N683, 613, 000 for the purchase of 19 vehicles for NPA. This is the first time in four years that the NPA is buying any vehicle, that is why the Council considered and approved it.