The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has approved N9.8 billion for the rehabilitation of key roads and facilities at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The contract has been awarded to Julius Berger Plc, following the decision made during the FCTA’s 9th Executive Council meeting, held Friday at the FCT Secretariat.

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The Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Shehu Ahmad, who spoke to the press after the meeting on Friday, confirmed that the contract, valued at N9,874,326,036.10, includes a completion deadline of six months.

Ahmad noted that Julius Berger, which had previously managed the facility, will lead the comprehensive rehabilitation effort, addressing multiple critical areas within the Presidential Wing.

“The second memo presented by the FCDA concerns some rehabilitation work, specifically the construction of the existing link road from Bill Clinton Drive to the Presidential Wing.

“If you have travelled that road, you would know it is in a state of disrepair, and other facilities within the Presidential Wing have shown signs of distress and dilapidation, so they are to be rehabilitated,” Ahmad explained.

“There is a presidential kitchen located within the Presidential Wing, but there is no access road from the main road to this area. We plan to provide that road and also rehabilitate the hangar housing the presidential aircraft.”

Additional upgrades are expected to include the Presidential Wing’s runway lights and a guest house designed as a holding center for visiting presidents and dignitaries.

Ahmad emphasized that the improvements would modernize infrastructure vital to the Presidential Wing’s operations.

In addition to the airport rehabilitation project, the Council approved a series of infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing Abuja’s road network.

Among these is a N7.8 billion contract to construct an access road to the new site of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Giri.

The contract was awarded to Levant Construction Limited, with a nine-month deadline for completion.

Other infrastructure projects approved include a N7.22 billion contract awarded to Planet Projects Limited for constructing access roads to Kugbo and Mabushi Bus/Taxi Terminals, expected to be completed within 12 weeks.

Additionally, Austlinks Energy Services Limited received a contract valued at N2.19 billion for the design and construction of ten staff quarters for the Nigeria Law School in Bwari, with a completion period of nine months.

The Amnesty International has lent its voice to the growing outrage against the Nigerian Government over the horrible treatment of minors allegedly involved in the #EndBadGovernance2024 protests.

The global human rights watchdog took to its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Friday to urge that the minors be released immediately and unconditionally.

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Biztellers reports that horrifying footage and images swarmed the public domain on Friday, showing over 100 people, mostly minors being arraigned on charges of treasonable felony for taking part in the #EndBadGovernance2024 protests.

Some of the minors, looking malnourished, slumped in the court, forcing the judge to ‘flee’ the scene.

It wrote, “The Nigerian authorities detained these minors unlawfully — putting them through horrifying experiences — for exercising their right to peaceful protest. Government must release them all — immediately and unconditionally.”

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has explained that talks were still ongoing on the sale of refined products to the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

This was detailed in a statement on Thursday evening by Dangote’s Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina.

Under the subject, ‘IPMAN: Setting the Record Straight’, the statement made to clarify stories being bandied in the media space on the difficulties being experienced by IPMAN member on purchasing products from Dangote.

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Chiejina wrote, “The Dangote Petroleum Refinery wishes to clarify that it has not received any payments from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to purchase refined petroleum products.

“Although discussions are ongoing with IPMAN, it is misleading to suggest that they (IPMAN Members) are experiencing difficulties loading refined products from our Petroleum Refinery, as we currently have no direct business dealings with them. “Consequently, we cannot be held responsible for any payments made to other entities.

“The payment in mention has been made through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and not us. In the same vein, NNPCL has neither approved, nor authorised us to release our Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to IPMAN.

“We would like to emphasise that we can meet the nation’s demand for all petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel. At present, we can load 2,900 trucks per day and we have also been evacuating petroleum products by sea. We advise IPMAN to register with us and make direct payment as we have more than enough petroleum products to satisfy the needs of their members.

“Furthermore, we believe it is instructive for all stakeholders to refrain from making unfounded statements in the media, as that could undermine the economic re-engineering efforts of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Conducting business through public speculation is counterproductive and unpatriotic.

“In the interest of our country, we encourage all stakeholders to collaborate and heed the advice of President Tinubu, while promoting a unified approach, rather than engaging in media conflicts and needless propaganda.”