The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday directed the Ministry of Works to undertake nationwide inspection of all highway bridges across the country to determine their integrity.
Mr Labaran Maku, the Minister of Information, said this while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the weekly FEC meeting, which was presided over by Vice- President Namadi Sambo.
He said that the council also approved N1.5 billion for the repair of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.
He said that an underwater inspection was undertaken by the ministry and the resultant preliminary report revealed alarming deterioration and serious damage on a number of pile foundation of the bridge.
He said that the repair work would include the replacement of eight extra joints at the mid span axes of the bridge.
``One of the most important decisions made today was that the FEC directed the Federal Ministry of Works to undertake a comprehensive stress check on all bridges in the country to ensure their integrity.
``The directive was as a result of a memo presented by the Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, to effect regular maintenance on the Third Mainland Bridge, the longest and oldest bridge in the country.
``The Federal Executive Council believes that we should not wait until there is an emergency and that the Federal Ministry of Works must routinely set up a strategy to ensure that all major bridges in the country are tested, especially to ensure that they are maintained regularly."
The minister said the council directed the ministry to always ensure annual budgetary allocation of funds for the maintenance of all highway bridges across the country.
Maku saidthat the council also gave the Ministry of Science and Technology the go-ahead to commence the experimentation on the solar panels produced by the ministry at Karshi, Abuja, for the production solar energy.
``The Federal Executive Council commended the ministry for its commitment to the exploration research and production of solar panels as well as its determination to ensure that Nigeria internally has the capacity to utilise solar energy for development.
Makusaid that the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Ita Ewa, also briefed the council on the progress being made on the nation's two satellites.
He said that the satellites, which were launched earlier in the year in Russia, would ensure rapid development of the country.
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