Senate Panel Demands Cancellation of N64 Billion Abuja Runway Contract

Senate Committee on Aviation has called for the cancellation of the controversial N64 billion contract for a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja.

The project has been adjudged as the costliest in the world.

In demanding the cancellation, the Anyim-Ude-led panel described the contract, valued at N64 billion as "outrageous," insisting that the contract did not follow due process.

The panel made call in a statement by Committee Clerk, Victor Aborishade, in Abuja on Sunday.


Making its position on the matter known at a meeting with aviation executives in Abuja, the committee faulted the concept of design and construction adopted by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in awarding the contract.

The committee noted that the project consultants could not do much since FAAN had decided on what it wanted and merely invited them to rubber stamp it.

The committee wondered why FAAN did not hire a consultant to design the second runway and prepare bill of quantities that would have been handed over to the contractors after advertising the contract.

Ude, who presented the position of the committee, said: "Having reviewed what it cost to build airports and runways in other places, we agreed that:


"The method of tendering was faulty. It should have been open tendering system, not selective;

"The figure of N63.5 billion is outrageous;•"We shall recommend cancellation of the contract to the government through the Senate;

"We also want a review of steps taken by each person in the process so as to determine the various competencies or lack of them in that regard."

Explaining further, Ude said the committe believed that the cancellation will give opportunity for the contract to be properly advertised using the open tendering system to give Nigeria the kind of runway it requires at less cost.

The committee said information at its disposal indicated that similar projects in India, Helsinki, Finland and Gombe State cost less.

It cost N6.99 billion in Djibouti, N7.5 billion in Gombe and N2.14 billion in Helsinki.

Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Richard Aisuebeogun, laboured to justify why the country should spend such amount on a second runway, pointing out that the existing runway built 27 years ago had developed 'alligator cracks' and could not take the intensive traffic density.

He explained that the project was based on the concept of design and construct.

A sum of N11 billion was appropriated for the project in the 2010 Appropriation Act.

http://www.independentngonline.com/

Good riddance! This is one of the few instances where Senate has proved useful and loyal. They should keep it up.

Perhaps, perhaps not.