The Federal Government has approved the purchase of 40 pick up utility vehicles for the 2016 national population census, in line with the patronizing made in Nigeria goods.
It directed the National Population Commission, NPC, to strictly source the vehicles from local manufacturers.
Briefing journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council Meeting the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said in preparation for the 2016 national population census, the NPC had brought a memo to the council for the purchase of utility vehicles to be used for field works for planning and execution of the 2016 census.
However, the council had after careful deliberation, approved the purchase of 40 vehicles directing that the vehicles be procured locally.
"The interesting thing about this is that the President directed that the vehicles be procured locally from our manufacturers, we know that Innoson has been manufacturing at Nnewi and has stepped up local production of variety of vehicles including buses, utility vehicles and pick up vans and so today, we decided that the purchase of these vehicles should be done locally to encourage local manufacturers. This was the directive of the President," Maku said.
He said government will prefer local motor and manufacturing companies in the country to supply bulk of the vehicles to encourage the firm and boost local manufacturing of cars.
"The firm is placing Nigeria on the car manufacturing map and also enjoys the support of most government departments and agencies who buy most of their utility vehicles from the company," he said.
Though the minister did not reveal the total cost of the proposed vehicles, he noted that patronizing local manufacturers will not only assist the local automobile industry, but will help in boosting the current job creation efforts of the government.
Council also approval of contract for the purchase and supply of learning materials for public schools, including those of English, mathematics, introduction to technology and so on the books will be read in six weeks.
The books, totalling four million, will be procured at the cost N8.7 billion and will be distributed to schools from both all public primary and junior secondary schools.
"The utilization of the 15 percent and 2 percent consolidated revenue fund as intervention fund for the procurement of instruction materials to enhance universal basic education in Nigerian public schools, was approved by council at its EC (2008) 26th meeting conclusion 13 of 27th of August, 2008."
Council also awarded contract for the major water supply project to Abuja Technology Village, and other private estates in the area at the cost of N2.138 billion. The contract is expected to be completed in 18 months.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed also said owners of houses in the area, are also expected to benefit from the project as many private houses and the private estate developers have been using boreholes which is not in tandem with the Abuja master plan.
Council also received and approved memo to provide infrastructure for the Kyami district along the Airport Road including engineering design for the district at the cost of N427m.
The district, according to the Minister, is the largest in Abuja covering a total land area of 2700 hectares.
It is expected to share facilities with the Abuja Centenary City, which is one of the major developments expected to take place around Kyami
http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/2016-census-fg-approves-made-nigeria-vehicles