The federal executive council has approved a total of 1.1 billion naira for the purchase of two locomotives to be used as alternative means of transportation between the federal capital territory and Kaduna state.

Briefing state house correspondent after Wednesday’s council meeting, the minister of transport Mohammed Idris said the gesture was in line with government efforts at easing transportation and the ongoing reform in the rail sector.

Correspondent Nnabuchi Okey Nnabuchi reports that the minister of health professor Onyebuchi Chukwu also briefed the council on the status of the spread of the Ebola virus across the globe.

It was the first council meeting after the four-day Sallah break and members used the opportunity to embrace each while exchanging pleasantries. Soon after the greetings and president’s arrival, was appraisal of activities that happened before and after the Sallah break.

According to the minister of transport, a lot of issues of national importance were deliberated upon but the approval of the purchase of the locomotives  toped the agenda  since government was interested in commissioning the Abuja- Kaduna rail lines before the of the year.

Transportation of the Ebola virus to Spain and the United States became another topic that reminded government that the whole world remains vulnerable if there is one case of the Ebola virus anywhere, hence the renewed call for the sustenance of containment approach used to edge the disease out of Nigeria.

The council took glory for kicking Ebola out of Nigeria saying only three countries in West Africa are still battling with the virus. They also advised Nigerians to continue the act of cleanliness to avoid resurgence of the deadly virus.

More deliberations are expected from the council when it reconvenes on Wednesday, 15th of October, 2014.