The Federal Capital Territory Administration has approved the immediate renovation, rehabilitation and upgrading of the territory’s 14 general hospitals, including the provision of new medical equipment and upgrades to diagnostic facilities and theatres.
The administration also approved the resumption of work on the long-abandoned Utako General Hospital.
The decisions were reached at the 19th meeting of the FCT Executive Council, presided over by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and attended by the Minister of State, Mariya Mahmoud.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Chief of Staff to the minister, Chidi Amadi, said the council considered 20 memoranda submitted by various secretariats, departments and agencies.
The Mandate Secretary for Health and Environmental Services, Adedolapo Fasawe, said the hospital upgrade would include the procurement of X-ray machines and other diagnostic equipment, as well as theatre upgrades.
She said Wike had also directed the immediate commencement of work on the Utako General Hospital, which had remained abandoned for years.
According to her, the intervention would cover the construction, equipping and staffing of the facility to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare for FCT residents.
Fasawe added that the administration had continued to meet its financial obligations to health insurance providers and Health Maintenance Organisations through the payment of premiums and capitation.
The council also approved the digitalisation of the FCT High Court, covering about 67 courtrooms across its judicial divisions.
The General Counsel, Salman Dako, said the project would introduce electronic court recording and case-management systems, replacing manual recording and physical filing with digital processes.
He said implementation would begin immediately, with noticeable improvements expected within two weeks.
In the education sector, the council approved two contracts for the provision of examination materials for pupils and students in primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools across the FCT.
The Mandate Secretary for Education, Danlami Hayyo, said the approval was part of efforts to improve public schools through renovation, rehabilitation, better classroom facilities and instructional materials.
He said improved infrastructure in public schools had encouraged some parents to move their children from private to public schools.
The Satellite Towns Development Department also secured approval for a N5.703 billion contract for the construction of a 33KVA power supply line from Dawaki to Tukulo and surrounding communities in Bwari Area Council.
The project, awarded to CGC Nigeria Limited, is expected to be completed within eight months.
The council further ratified two completed and commissioned road projects in the satellite towns: the Gaba-Tukulo Road and two-span river bridge in Bwari, awarded to Setraco Nigeria Limited for N8.219 billion, and the Paikon Kore-Ibuwa Road in Gwagwalada, awarded to the company for N8.890 billion.
Both contracts included 7.5 per cent VAT.
The Department of Land Administration secured approval for the procurement of utility vehicles and integrated ICT infrastructure, including computers, scanners, network equipment, fibre-optic connections, servers and monitoring systems.
The council also ratified the contract for printing customised revenue receipt booklets with enhanced security features to prevent alterations and fraud in land revenue collection.
The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company will produce the receipts.
The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council secured approval for six memoranda covering maintenance works across the capital, particularly waterways and areas affected by environmental challenges.
The council also approved the supply of high-test hypochlorite for water treatment by the FCT Water Board.
The Acting General Manager of the Water Board, Chinyere Elechi, said the chemical was required to disinfect water and eliminate harmful microorganisms before distribution.
The council also approved the renewal of insurance for facilities linked to the Lower Usman Dam Treatment Plant.
