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The Federal Government on Wednesday approved a whopping N92 billion for the rehabilitation of 20 road projects spread across the six geo-political zones of the country under the federal road network rehabilitation programme and also for the procurement of different platforms for the navy and air force. Out of the amount of money, N70 billion was appropriated for road projects out of which N21.233 billion was captured in the 2009 budget while the balance of N49 billion would be captured in the proposed 2010 appropriation for the road rehabilitation works. The government also approved consultancy services contract (phase I) of the Shagamu-Benin-Asaba dual carriageway in the sum of N147.09 million. Briefing State House correspondents, shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Dora Akunyili, minister of information and communications joined by Mansur Mukhtar, minister of finance; Hassan Lawal, minister of works, housing and urban development, and Ikra Bilbis, minister of state for information and communications, said the Federal Government was giving priority to the rehabilitation of roads across the country because it forms a key point in the seven-point agenda of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s government. Akunyili said the “state of disrepair of some of these roads calls for urgent need for rehabilitation”. Breakdown of the road projects and cost per zone are as follows: North Central, two projects in the sum of N5.7 billion; North West, two projects in the sum of N9.7 billion; North East, four projects in the sum of N10 billion; South-South, four projects in the sum of N9.7; South East, four projects in the sum of N20.1 billion and South West, four projects in the sum of N15.9 billion. Speaking further on the defence approval, Akunyili said N15.8 billion (68.6m euro) was set aside for the acquisition of five fairly used Supa Puma Helicopters for the Nigerian Air Force while N1.3 billion ($8.8m) was approved for the purchase of ASD Fast Patrol Craft for the Nigerian Navy. The minister said “the helicopters are to be deployed in the areas of air support for Nigerian troops in peace keeping operations as well as air support surveillance and reconnaissance in the Niger Delta”.