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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) is currently investigating the contractor that handled one of the cargo projects in the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Sirika stated this, on Monday, when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation to defend the 2023 budget proposal of the ministry.
The minister explained that there are two cargo projects in Abuja and that one has been completed and awaiting commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari. Nevertheless, he stated that the second project, which was awarded in 2012, was abandoned by the contractor, after he has collected 75 per cent payment.
According to him, “the second one, the contract was given in 2012, the contractors were advanced money up to about 75%. These contracts were abandoned by the contractors. Mr. President directed that they be investigated, prosecuted and the monies recovered but because we don’t have prosecuting powers, we reported to EFCC. They confirmed to me that they have finished the investigation.We will inform the House when we see EFCC and they brief us formally.”
Furthermore, the minister noted that the new national carrier, Nigeria Air, is scheduled to begin domestic operations before the end of the year, it will will commence international operations as soon as necessary approvals and certifications are gotten.
“The national carriers will be launched soon. We have Boeing 737 in its fleet for domestic operations and later the international operations would be introduced. We would begin the domestic market, pending the time we would get the certification and approvals to go international and intercontinental, which would be soon.
“The cost of aircraft maintenance, though worrisome, has been managed during this period. Furthermore, it is worthy to note there are more bilateral and multilateral air services agreements that have been signed for the benefit of our air travelers,” Sirika stated.
