The Federal Executive Council has approved the provision of free broadband service in 20 selected airports in the country.
Also to benefit from the free service are 43 selected higher institutions of learning and 6 markets.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, who disclosed this in Abuja, said the contract sum of the project was over N24 billion, to be delivered in 5 months.
The Minister explained that the just-approved provision of free WiFi to the tertiary institutions was the 2nd phase of the previous approval for the unlimited provision of the service to 18 tertiary institutions, bringing the total of the beneficiaries to 63.
The provision of the service to the 6 markets according to the minister, was to compliment an earlier approval of the service to 20 markets across the country.
N42 billion approved for contamination management
FEC equally approved an award of about N42 billion contract for the construction of Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration in Cana Local Government Area of Rivers State, to facilitate efficient and cost-effective approach to contamination management.
The Minister of Environment, Muhammad Abdullahi said the centre would provide training and courses on remediation, as well as skills in contamination technology.
The Ministry also got approval to award over N18 billion contract for the construction of Ogoni 100-bed Specialist hospital, to be completed in 24 months.
Ministry of transport gets N26 billion
Also approved was the memorandum presented by the Ministry of Transportation to renew the management contracts for managing tags and pilot-cutters within Apapa and Tin Can ports complexes.
The Minister, Mu’azu Jaji, said the previous agreement, which lasted for 15 years, expired in March, last year, hence the necessity to renew it to a 10-year period, at the cost of over N12 billion.
He said approval was also given for the procurement of 2 boats to support the operations of the newly-commissioned Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, at the cost of over N14 billion, to be delivered in 15 months.
Dualisation of Akure-Ita-Ogbolu
The Minister of State for Works and Housing, Umar El-Yakubu, said they had obtained approval to award an over N46 billion contract for the dualisation of the Akure-Ita-Ogbolu through Iju Ado-Ekiti road linking Ondo and Ekiti states.
He said the project would be completed in 24 months.
The Ministry of Aviation also got approval to expend over N2 billion for the construction of a 150-room capacity female hostel at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State, to be completed in 12 months.
Solomon Arase becomes chairman, Police Service Commission
Prior to the commencement of the meeting, President, Buhari swore in former Inspector-General of Police, Dr Solomon Arase as the new chairman of the Police Service Commission, following his confirmation by the Senate.
The President also swore in five board members of the Code of Conduct Bureau.
A meeting also had a minute of silence in honour of Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya, who passed away last week.
Reporting by Abdullah Bello; Editing by Muzha Kucha and Annabel Nwachukwu