FG approves N5.6bn for construction of oxygen plants in 36 states, FCT

Enoch Oyedibu

The Federal Executive Council presided over by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) has approved the disbursement of N5.6bn for the construction of oxygen production plants in all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

The government also approved the disbursement of N9.2bn as premium for insurance companies that will manage group life insurance coverage for federal civil servants.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, at the end of the council’s weekly meeting.

Mohammed said, “On behalf of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, I will like to report that council today approved the award of contract for the appointment of insurance companies for group life assurance for Federal Government employees, public servants, paramilitary and the intelligence community for the year 2021-2022 in the sum of N9,248,995,907 and this premium is for 12 months.

“This is part of the government’s welfare programme for our public employees so that in case of death, they are assured that there would be compensation.”

The government, he said, also approved the disbursement of N5.6bn for the construction of oxygen production plants in all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

This, he said, would ramp up the nation’s oxygen reserves to enable it to mitigate a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

The approval came days after the Presidential Steering Committee made the initial announcements about the initiative on Monday.

Mohammed who spoke on behalf of the Health Minister, Osagie Ehanire said, “The minister of health presented a memo, which was approved, for the emergency supply, installation and maintenance of oxygen production plants and construction of plant houses in each of the 36 states of the federation and Abuja.

“The contract was approved in the sum of N5,615,127,479 inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT, in favour of four different companies, with a completion period of 20 weeks.”

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