FEC Okays N1.7b to Retool Zaria, Katsina Airports

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N1.7 billion for the procurement and installation of communications equipment at the Zaria and Katsina airports.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika told reporters yesterday in Abuja that the tools were to enhance security around the nation’s airports, especially with the recent certification by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

He said: “We presented a memorandum for the award of contract for the procurement and installation of communications equipment and absolute control contour in Zaria and Katsina.

“The total contract sum is N1,71460,196.10, including Value Added Tax (VAT). The completion period is eight months.

This is to address critical safety issues in such a way that there will be better communication and efficiency in the control towers in Zaria and Katsina and this is similar to what we have done in other airports.

“This is to make air transposition more efficient and ensure that we save time and money.” Besides, the meeting renamed the Ministry of Communications as Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

The Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami, said the decision was to reflect the potentials of the digital economy to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He said while oil and gas contributed eight per cent to the economy in the first quarter of this year, information and communications technology (ICT) posted 13.8 per cent to the national GDP.

To leverage the gains of the industry, the minister said the government had sanctioned improved infrastructure to bridge the gaps in communications networks.

He stated that President Muhammadu Buhari administration was poised to boost digital literacy by helping the people to migrate seamlessly from the traditional ways of doing business.

 

Source: Guardian