FEC approves N3bn for NCDC lab equipment

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of N3.070 billion for Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to acquire laboratory equipment.

The approval was made on Wednesday, at the 38th virtual FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, said a total of N3,070,892,988 was approved for six contracts on procurement of laboratory equipment for NCDC.

He said the decision is to provide needed tools for future disease outbreaks.

“The ministry of health presented a memo on behalf of NCDC public health laboratory specialist and for Centre for Disease Control,” he said.

“It is for six contracts for laboratory equipment and to the total worth of N3,070,892,988 for various equipment and supply, to strengthen the work of NCDC in various parts of the country, to be more ready for the work they do in diagnostics preparedness, not only for COVID-19 but for any other disease outbreak of public interest in the future.”

FEC approved 6 contracts for laboratory equipments to the total worth of N3,070,892,938 for various equipments and supply, to strengthen the work of @NCDCgov in various parts of the country to be more ready for the work they do.”-Minister of @Fmohnigeria, @DrEOEhanire#FECBrief pic.twitter.com/0QubC7ZQaG

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— Government of Nigeria (@NigeriaGov) March 18, 2021

Clement Agba, minister of state budget and national planning, said the council approved a memo that has to do with the reviewed National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan 2020 to 2043.

“The maiden master plan was from 2014 to 2043 and embedded in it as a living document is that it ought to be reviewed every five years,” he said.

“There are about seven asset classes that are contained in the master plan. This is in the areas of transportation, energy, ICT, agriculture, water and mining, social infrastructure, housing and regional development, security and vital registration.

“The maiden edition didn’t have the macro economic framework embedded in it but with the reviewed update that has been approved today by the council, it includes macro economic framework. It also allows for the establishment of the National Council on Infrastructure under the chairmanship of the vice-president to provide policy direction and infrastructure related materials.”

In an interview with TheCable, Chikwe Ihekweazu, director-general of the NCDC, had decried the paucity of funds for Nigeria’s health sector.

He said the country needs “sustainable investment for Nigeria’s health security… we are in an existential crisis in terms of funding”.