Cabinet approves $5.4m for construction of wildlife ministry headquarters

The Council of Ministers on Friday approved 4.5 million US dollars for the completion of the construction of the Ministry of Wildlife and Tourism complex.

The Council of Ministers on Friday approved 4.5 million US dollars for the completion of the construction of the Ministry of Wildlife and Tourism complex.

Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Michael Makueisaid the approval comes after the National Minister of Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism, Rizig Zachariah, requested the funds. 

“The Ministry of Wildlife and Tourism is under construction, it is almost completed, but they have run short of funds, and as such, they requested funds for the completion of the building,” Makuei said.

“So that the building can be used and the amount needed was to the value of 5,450,460 US dollars. This was the amount he requested to be paid, and the cabinet approved the payment of the amount and directed him to coordinate with the minister of finance and planning for the necessary payment so that the building is complete,” he explained.

Makuei, who is also the government spokesman, said the cabinet also listened to a presentation from the Minister of Culture, Museum and National Heritage, Dr Nadia Arop Dudi, who made a presentation on her ministry’s five years strategic framework.  

 “It also listened to a presentation from Dr. Nadia Arop Dudi, the Minister of Culture, Museum and Cultural Heritage, on the policy framework and strategic plan 2022-2027. This was the policy framework of the ministry. It is worth mentioning that the ministry, since it was established, did not develop a policy framework, so this was the policy framework prepared and presented,” Makuei said.

“After a thorough deliberation, the cabinet passed the policy and strategic plan for the ministry and directed the minister of Culture Museum and national heritage to present it to the transitional national legislative assembly for consideration,” he said.

On the peace agreement, Makuei said the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement is on track as significant progress has been made.

He revealed that they are in the final stage to deploy the necessary unified forces and to kickstart phase two of the training of the necessary unified forces. 

“We are moving very well. We have already passed a budget for the deployment of forces who are already graduated so that they vacate the training centre. It is thereafter that probably within this month, these forces will be removed from the training centres, they will be deployed to their various areas and phase two of the forces will go to the training centres by the end of this month or early next month, “ he said.

The information minister also said they are also progressing in the passing of the election laws and the process of the permanent constitution making.

“As for other chapters,  work is going on very well. We are in the process of establishing the law for the constitution-making process which is already passed, and the law for the political parties council is already passed. We are now in the process of the bodies required for the constitution-making process and the political parties. So we continue to wait for the amended laws so that we continue restructuring and establishing the commissions in accordance with the provisions of the amended laws, “Makuei concludes.