SURE-P: FG to buy N240m locally-made vehicles

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the purchase of 44 locally-made IVM G5 Jeeps for the 37 chairmen of the state and Federal Capital Territory coordinators of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme.

The council  also approved the draft of the Nigerian Metallurgical Industry Bill, 2014 meant to regulate the country’s metal industry.

These were the outcomes of the weekly FEC meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran  Maku; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu; and the Minister of Solid Minerals, Mines and Steel Development, Muhammed Sada, briefed State House correspondents on the meeting’s outcome.

Wogu said the council decided to buy the vehicles from Messrs Innoson Vehicle Manufacturer Company Limited based in Nnewi, Anambra State, in line with the Federal Government’s policy to patronise locally manufactured vehicles through direct procurement.

He said the purchase whose total sum was put at N240.2m inclusive of Value Added Tax would be carried out within one week.

He said, “The council approved a memorandum I brought to seek council’s approval for the award of contract for the direct procurement of 44 IVM G5 Jeeps for the 44 chairmen of the state and FCT Coordination and Implementation Commission of the Community Services, Women and Youths Employment project of SURE-P and the Implementation Unit at the headquarters.

“To effectively implement this project, it becomes important that utility vehicles are procured which will enhance monitoring and supervision of the community services,women and youth employment activities at the state and local government levels nationwide.

“There is a provision in the 2013 budget for the project.”

The minister debunked insinuation that the SURE-P was being used to empower only members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

He explained that the approved vehicles, though coming in a campaign year, was not meant for campaigns as the approval was done on a non-party basis.

He said the various projects as regards road construction, education, health and others that were being carried out under SURE-P were for all Nigerians and not a political party.

Copyright PUNCH.