Senate queries approval of N63.5bn for Abuja Airport’s 2nd runway contract

ABUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, queried the N63.5 billion
approved for the construction of the second Runway for
the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, saying it
was an attempt to ‘steal and rape’ Nigerians of the
country’s common patrimony.
It, however,
called on the
government to
urgently
construct a
second runway
at the airport
and urged it to
ensure that due
process and
diligence was
followed in the
award of
contracts for the
construction.
These resolutions were sequel to a motion by Senator
Dino Melaye, All Progressives Congress, APC, Kogi West,
titled, The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja,
Second Runway Contract.
The Senate, while calling on the federal government to
drastically reduce what it termed the unrealistic cost, said
the government must monitor the contract award process.
Presenting the motion, Senator Melaye noted that the
contract for the construction of the runway was cancelled
by the last administration after allegation of over inflation
of contracts was established.
Melaye, who noted that the contract was awarded by the
Federal Executive Council, FEC, at N64 billion after
ratification by the Bureau for Public Procurement, BPP,
contended that there was also the need for the
construction of a second runway since, according to him,
“the existing one is not only bad but inadequate.”
According to him, the entire Gombe Airport, with 3.6km
runaway cost N8.2 billion; Jigawa Airport cost a total of
N11 billion, Bauchi, N12 billion; Enugu Airport,
reconstructed and expanded at N13 billion and Akwa
Ibom Airport was constructed at N18.05 billion.
He expressed worry that the proposed cost of constructing
just a runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, was
astronomical, insisting that the amount was four times the
cost of constructing a brand new runway in the country.
Melaye argued that the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow
Airport, with four lanes of 4km runway cost less than N22
billion, saying constructing a 3. 8km one-line runway for
N63.5 billion would be a waste of fund considering
Nigeria’s present economic situation.
He said: “The publication that the contract is already
undergoing review and to be awarded at N63.5 billion as
published by newspapers is another attempt to steal and
rape Nigerians of our common patrimony. Further
convinced by the fact that the entire Gombe Airport with
36km runway cost of N8.2 billion; Jigawa Airport cost N12
billion, Enugu Airport was constructed and expanded at 13
billion naira and Akwa Ibom Airport at N18.05 billion .
“This astronomical amount is about four times the cost of
constructing a brand new airport in Nigeria. As a
representative of the people, we must advise that due
process and strict adherence to Public Procurement Act
be observed in the said contract of the Second Abuja
Airport Runaway. If this not brought to attention of the
government now, there may be another fraud in the
making, given the comparative analysis of cheaper cost
across the country. “
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in his remark, tasked the
government to put in motion necessary machinery to
construct a better runway at the Abuja International
Airport and due process should be followed in awarding
the contract.
According to him, the amount bandied for constructing
the second runway at the airport was unacceptable,
stressing that the Senate would do its best to ensure that
there was probity in award of contracts not only in the
aviation sector, but other sectors of the economy.
The Senate President who noted that there was the need
to stop what he described as the reckless expenditures,
while awarding contracts in the country, said that it was
the responsibility of the senate to perform the oversight
functions in awarding these contracts.
Meanwhile, five bills passed first reading yesterday.
The bills include Prevention and Punishment of Torture
Bill 2015 by Senator Biodun Olujimi, Ekiti South; the
Nigerian Biodiversity bill 2015 and Counterfeit Goods Bill
2015 by Senator Isah Misau, Bauchi Central; National
ecological agency Bill 2015 by Senator Obinna Ogba,
Ebonyi Central and and Fire arms act CAP F28 LFN 2004
(repeal and re-enactment) Bill 2015, Joshua Dariye,
Plateau Central.
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