Tinubu presides over FEC meeting, approves N20bn for customs projects
President Bola Tinubu is presiding over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja.
Tuesday’s meeting, which began at 01:26 p.m. when President Tinubu arrived at the Council Chamber, is the second executive meeting for 2025.
Speaking on Monday, the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, disclosed that the council members will converge again on Tuesday for another council meeting for the year.
He said the meetings were scheduled in succession to look into the backlog of memos.
“Let me also say that there is also another Federal Executive Council meeting coming up tomorrow.
“Recall that since December, we’ve not had anyone, so a lot of memos have gathered. And the President is determined to dispense with all of them.
“So we want to say that tomorrow there will be another press briefing after the FEC meeting,” the minister said.
Present at the meeting are Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack and some ministers and ministers of state.
On Monday, the council approved N4.8bn for the Presidential Treatment Programme providing 150,000 HIV treatment packs from February to May 2025.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, told journalists that the resolution followed talks on the implications of recent U.S. policy changes on Nigeria’s health programmes, particularly regarding HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria funding.
FEC approved N20billion for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to procure compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, construct forward bases in remote areas, and provide life insurance coverage for officers.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, announced the approval on Monday while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting, presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
He stated that the package includes N1 billion life insurance policy for Customs officers, aimed at enhancing their welfare and providing financial security for their families.
“The Customs came with some N20 billion worth of important projects and procurements, CNG vehicles and some construction and furnishing of facilities, particularly the forward bases in the remote areas.
“Also, about N1 billion worth of financing for life insurance; it’s a group life insurance policy, of course, which is implemented by underwriters and brokers. So we have two transactions for Customs,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali, said FEC has approved $45,303,000 for a detailed feasibility study and engineering design for a new transportation route alignment for the four Western seaports.
According to Alkali, the initiative aims to enhance economic growth by linking western ports to the hinterland, thereby increasing GDP and economic activity.
“You are all aware transportation is one of the key priority areas of President Tinubu’s administration, and it is an enabler of economic growth. So the Federal Executive Council has approved a detailed feasibility study and engineering design of a proposed route alignment from Badagry Deep Seaport to Tincan, Tincan to Apapa, Lekki Seaport to Ijebu-Ode and Kajola. It is at Kajola that it will connect with the Lagos to Kano to Maradi Railway Modernisation project.
“The idea is to link the western port to the hinterland. As it is, we have only Apapa Port that is linked with a red line. We have a standard gauge inter-APMT terminal in Apapa, which we are using for freight from Lagos to Ibadan and we have the old narrow gauge that was rehabilitated; we have put it into use for freight from Lagos to Kano.
“So by the time we are able to link all four seaports at the Western Corridor to the hinterland, it will further grow our GDP and enhance our economic activity. The contract was awarded at the cost of $45,303,000,” he said.
