FG approves N52bn for e-border technology
http://www.hrlnews.com/2019/04/fg-approves-n52bn-for-e-border.html
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N52 billion for the provision of electronic devices at the country’s borders.
Briefing journalists at the end of the weekly FEC meeting presided
over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the State House, the Minister of
Interior, Lt. General Abdulraman Dambazzau (rtd), said given the porous
nature of the country’s borders, it is absolutely impossible to
effectively safeguard them.
According to him, only the installation of technological devices
could guarantee effective monitoring of the borders, which he said
necessitated the approval of N52 billion for the enablement of
e-borders.
The minister who said the approval was the fallout of a Memorandum of
Understanding that he presented to the council, added that when
executed, the project would be effective in 86 border posts and foster
the monitoring of 1,400 illegal routes through which smuggling and other
cross-border criminal activities are usually perpetrated.
“You will recall that 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 e-Border
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.”
In his own briefing, the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu,
reviewed the contract costs for two water projects and increased the
earlier approval.
“FEC approved the extension of consultancy services on two priority
ongoing projects. First is Igawa Dam Project In Katsina State, which is
50,60 per cent completed.
“Last year, we got a total reversal cost of the project and
extension. Aligning everything together, the supervising and consultancy
services also have to be extended to correspond with the completion
period.
“To that effect, council approved augmentation of over N91 million
for consultancy service supervision in favour of Messrs Cosidon
Consultancy Service Ltd. This now raises the consultancy fee from N125.7
million to N217.4 million.
“The second memo is in respect of Mangu Dam project which has
attained about 70 per cent completion. We also had revised estimated
cost approval last year, which also approved an extension period for the
work.
“In the same vein, the consultancy period has to be adjusted to
correspond to the completion period, with augmentation of N111.6 million
to raise the consultancy service supervision from N104 million to N215
million with an extension period of 24 months in favour of AIM
Consultants Ltd,” he said.