Stella Oduah, the Minister of Aviation categorically
denied all of them, heaping the blame on her aides and critics.
In a written testimony she read at a hearing of the House of
Representatives Committee on Aviation, she said of the spending of
monies by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority of the spending of N255
million on the purchase of luxury armoured vehicles for her private use,
“IT IS NOT TRUE THAT THE NCAA HAS SPENT SUCH AMOUNT OF MONEY ON
PURCHASE OF VEHICLES. It is also NOT TRUE THAT THE NCAA HAS PURCHASED 2
BULLETPROOF BMW VEHICLES FOR THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF AVIATION.”
She then went on to throw her aides under the speeding train.
“Sadly, other than the conjecture, [SaharaReporters] has not supported
this inflammatory [report with any rational basis,” she told the
committee. “As a matter of fact, their justification and confirmation
which they brandish is nothing but the erroneous responses of my aides.”
It would be recalled that the purchase of the cars was confirmed by staff of the Ministry.
“You may recall that there have been attempts at clarifying issues
pertaining to this particular procurement,” Mrs. Oduah said. “In the
process, some of the issues were further muddled up. I mention in this
regard the first attempt at clarifying the issue by the Coordinating
Spokesperson for the parastatals when he was first confronted with the
allegation, without recourse to the Minister or the Principal Officer of
the Ministry and its Agencies, described the information as a mere
rumour.
READ MORE AFTER THE CUT..............
“This was followed by the statement of my S.A Media who was himself
guided by his own perception of the duties and challenges of my office
and possibly, even the danger to the person and office of the Minister.
This is made evident by the fact that his statement focused on my
personal security and safety without recourse to procurement process and
policy file to which he had no access.”
Mrs. Oduah explained that rather than the NCAA having purchased the
two controversial cars, what the agency did was “to plan for the
acquisition of vehicles for next three years within the MTEF through a
LEASE FINANCING ARRANGEMENT with First Bank Plc.”
In her account, “Under this arrangement, NCAA would have paid N100
Million by the end of fiscal year 2013. The sum is below the
appropriated amount of N240 Million and LESS than what is required for
FEC approval. It would appear that what the NCAA has done within the
framework of the MTEF and its desire to be prudent, is to plan its
budget in a manner that the cash flow of the Authority is able to
accommodate spending.”
The Minister also blamed naysayers in the aviation sector for her
predicament, saying that efforts to bring change to the aviation sector
are being resisted by entrenched interests that have been ripping off
the nation.
“We have had to put our foot down in order to halt the rape of our
national patrimony. We have had to confront forces that have held the
sector hostage. My team and I will not fold our arms and complain and
not lift a finger to do anything. We dared to act; we have indeed acted,
convinced that it was in the national interest to do so.”
In that endeavor, she declared, “The purveyors of the rot and
corruption that has characterized the sector have continued to fight
back every inch of the way. The latest false and wicked allegation of
purchase of 2 nos bulletproof cars for me by the NCAA is one of such
fights to discredit my team and give the impression that our reforms
lack credibility.”
It will be recalled that in his testimony on Wednesday, Cosmas
Maduka, the Chief Executive of Coscharis Motors which sold the vehicles,
described the transaction as falling within due process, but he did not
allude to a lease arrangement for them, or a N100m downpayment from
NCAA for 2013.
This is critical because on Tuesday when members of the Committee
inspected the vehicles, they openly stated that the chassis numbers were
different from those specified in the communication between NCAA and
Coscharis. This means that switch-and-bait manoeuvres may have been
made to present a separate set of vehicles that match a leasing
arrangement.
While the Minister and the Committee are preoccupied with the
original two overpriced luxury cars, several more vehicles have been
traced to the shenanigans going on in the Ministry of Aviation.
On Wednesday, Investigative Reporters In Aviation (IRA) said it had
found that six cars, not two, were actually purchased by the Minister
through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian
Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and the Federal Airport Authority of
Nigeria (FAAN)
“Our work as IRA revealed that while Nnamdi Udoh of NAMA bought two
BMW, Joyce Nkemakolam (Acting DG) of NCAA bought two BMW, and Mr. Uresi
George of FAAN bought two bullet-proof American specs limousine for the
Minister of Aviation,” Mazi Kanayo Ochei, and Kenneth Uti said on behalf
of the group.
On October 21, SaharaReporters also further reported that NAMA had
also purchased four Toyota Tundra vehicles for Mrs. Oduah in addition to
four stretch limousine cars that were said to have been bought for the
transportation of VIPs to the Ministry. NAMA later said the vehicles,
which have been in its premises for months, belonged to a private
charter operator.
Similarly, ongoing investigation by SaharaReporters confirmed
yesterday how the Minister compelled the FAAN to borrow a huge amount
from First Bank to buy her two bullet-proof cars.
Several sources at FAAN and First Bank told SaharaReporters that the
Managing Director of FAAN, George Uriesi, conspired with Ms. Oduah to
obtain a loan of N1.3 billion, part of which was used to buy 205 cars
for several staff members, directors as well as board members of the
agency.
Concluding her 4039-word address to the committee today, the Minister
did not say a word about NAMA or FAAN, but insisted that NCAA has not
spent any money which was not appropriated by the National Assembly, but
only N52million on ALL the vehicles acquired through the Lease
Financing Arrangement with First Bank.
“We further reiterate that the NCAA DID NOT purchase 2 nos bullet
proof vehicles for me as the Honourable Minister of Aviation. We
reiterate that the NCAA purchased 2 nos security vehicles for the
operations of the NCAA in line with monies approved for the NCAA under
the Appropriated Act passed by the National Assembly,” Mrs. Oduah said.
It is to be noted that the House committee, which rounded up its
hearing today, expressed public anger when the Minister failed to show
up yesterday, causing the members to adjourn until today to allow the
aviation Minister to attend.
During questioning today, committee member Jerry Manwe asked Mrs.
Oduah who was using the cars, given that she had claimed they were not
for her.
“Anyone can use any car in the pool,” her former Director General of the NCAA answered for her.
Reminded that the National Assembly rejected armoured cars in the
budget that she was defending, the Minister responded, “NCAA will answer
that.”
While the committee has focused on the two cars on which we first
reported, which are also the subject of the probe panel set up by
President Goodluck Jonathan, it is to be noted that the various reports
that have been made about other purchases are not being addressed by any
agencies of the government in both the executive or the judiciary.
Mr. Jonathan’s panel has about four days to submit its report. It is
unclear if Mrs. Oduah, who was in Israel with Mr. Jonathan and panel
member Ret. Col. Dasuki for close to one week, has testified before it.
Full text of the statement by the Minister:
PRESENTATION BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF AVIATION, PRINCESS STELLA
ODUAH, OON AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ORGANISED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON AVIATION HELD AT HEARING ROOM 0.28, HOUSE
OF REPRESENATIVES ON 31st October, 2013
Honourable Chairman,
Honourable Members of the House Committee on Aviation,
Gentlemen of the Press,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
1. Introduction
1.1. Let me first and foremost apologise for my inability to honour
your invitation to appear before you on the first two days the public
hearing held. My non appearance was not borne out of disrespect to this
Honourable House. Let me also thank the Honourabe Committee for
graciously rescheduling my appearance to today.
1.2. The invitation to appear before this Honourable Committee was
brought to my attention while I was on national assignment far
away in the State of Israel to conclude negotiations on a Bilateral Air
Service Agreement (BASA) on behalf of our dear country with the State of
Israel. I received the invitation with relief and gratitude to God
because of the promise of the opportunity it would afford me for
Nigerians, and indeed the whole world, to hear me out and set the record
straight.
1.3In the last few weeks, I have received all sorts of bashings in
the media. Many persons have also risen to my defence. Many have abused
me, some out of a genuine sense of outrage that I allegedly spent the
sum of USD1.6 Million of government funds to purchase for myself 2 nos
bulletproof BMW Cars for my personal use.
1.4 You may recall that there have been attempts at clarifying issues
pertaining to this particular procurement. In the process, some of the
issues were further muddled up. I mention in this regard the first
attempt at clarifying the issue by the Coordinating Spokesperson for the
parastatals when he was first confronted with the allegation, without
recourse to the Minister or the Principal Officer of the Ministry and
its Agencies, described the information as a mere rumour.
1.5. This was followed by the statement of my S.A Media who was
himself guided by his own perception of the duties and challenges of my
office and possibly, even the danger to the person and office of the
Minister. This is made evident by the fact that his statement focused on
my personal security and safety without recourse to procurement process
and policy file to which he had no access.
1.6 Although both inaccurate and innocently misguided, I understand
the urgency and aggression considering the sources the information was
breaking from.
1.7. The last official intervention in this matter came from the
Director General of NCAA, the agency charged with the oversight of the
aviation sector and the agency that actually undertook the procurement.
Whereas the DG was right in saying that the vehicles were not bought for
my office, the anticipated positive effect of this correct piece of
information was marred by remarks credited to the DG suggesting that the
agency was more concerned about issues of administration and
information security that had no bearing on this issue. In this regard,
we must bear in mind that the DG was very likely guided by his concerns
about other types of information the NCAA receives such as critical
airworthiness and other commercially sensitive information which the
Civil Aviation Act mandates the NCAA to protect.
1.8Let me therefore state emphatically for the records that there was
no attempt to either deliberately mislead the public or conceal any
information regarding this transaction; and also to formally apologise
for whatever tension or perception of same as a result of the foregoing.
On that note therefore, I stand before you and make the foregoing
clarifications.
1.9. The second category of commentators are the entrenched interests
in the aviation sector, who for over 38 years have held the sector by
the jugular and refused to allow any meaningful development and change
to take place. For the over 38 years that our airports were a damning
commentary on our status, even when our airspace existed without the
requisite navigational equipments and facilities to make the airspace
safe; this group of persons saw no evil and heard no evil. Under the
leadership of Mr President and the overwhelming support of the National
Assembly, my team and I have changed the game in favour of Nigeria
towards attaining her pride of place in the aviation world.
1.10 It is for the first category, the Nigerian people who
have acted out of a genuine sense of patriotism, that I seize this
opportunity to let the world know the truth surrounding this matter. For
the second category, that is the entrenched, corrupt and profligate
individuals and entities who have caused the serious rot in the aviation
sector, I owe no apologies.
1.11 Honourable Chairman, my initial enthusiasm was almost
doused when I became aware of what transpired when the Permanent
Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation appeared before the
Honourable Committee as my representative, with a letter conveying my
regards and requesting to present the position of the Federal Ministry
of Aviation. I have it on good authority that after his appeal and the
presentation of my letter, he was, in the words of some newspaper
headlines, “walked out of the House”.
1.12 I cannot in any way challenge the wisdom of the Honourable
Committee for walking him out. However, had he been allowed to present
the Ministry’s position, the truth about this matter would have been
known in the first instance.
1.13 I believe that it was one of those moments when, the false
accusations and my trial in the media, had affected the sense of outrage
of the Honourable members as citizens of our great nation. Fortified in
this knowledge of the fairness of the Committee, I prepared my
presentation knowing that the Honourable Committee will continue to
treat me fairly and afford me the opportunity to present it to the
Nigerian people without let or hindrance. My humble appeal is that the
Honourable Committee will discountenance the blatant falsehoods that
have been peddled against me in the media and patiently hear my side of
the story.
2.0 The Allegations Against Me
Honourable Chairman, as you are all aware, what necessitated
this public hearing were the events that followed a false and malicious
online publication that I had compelled the NCAA to purchase for me 2
nos BMW bulletproof cars at the cost of USD1.6 Million. Let me state
emphatically from the onset that the allegation concerning the purchase
of 2 nos bulletproof cars for me by the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority (NCAA) is false in its entirety. Sadly, other than the
conjecture, the publication has not supported this inflammatory
statement with any rational basis. As a matter of fact, their
justification and confirmation which they brandish is nothing but the
erroneous responses of my aides.
3.0 Matters Arising from the Lease Financing Arrangement for Operational Vehicles by the NCAA
3.1.0 Did the NCAA Spend Monies Not Approved by the Appropriation Act, 2013?
3.1.1 Honourable Chairman, the NCAA, as a result of the daily
interaction with the law in its regulatory and enforcement roles, is at
all times and in all matters conscious of its obligations of complying
with the law and all extant rules and regulations of the Government. The
NCAA is therefore conscious of its obligations relating in particular
to appropriation and will never spend monies that have not been
appropriated by the National Assembly.
3.1.2 It is in this regard, therefore, that the NCAA, within the
framework of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) approved by
the National Assembly as a planning tool, planned its budget with regard
to acquisition of operational and other security and safety vehicles
for the next three years in a manner compliant with Section 80 (4) of
the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended),
that prohibits the spending of monies from any fund of the Federation
except as appropriated by the National Assembly.
3.1.3 The media has been awash with the purported spending of monies
by the NCAA to the tune of USD1.6 million, N255 million and other
figures on the purchase of vehicles by the NCAA. Honourable Chairman, IT
IS NOT TRUE THAT THE NCAA HAS SPENT SUCH AMOUNT OF MONEY ON PURCHASE OF
VEHICLES. It is also NOT TRUE THAT THE NCAA HAS PURCHASED 2 BULLETPROOF
BMW VEHICLES FOR THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF AVIATION.
3.1.4 Honourable members, as pointed out above, my understanding is
that what the NCAA has done, is to plan for the acquisition of vehicles
for next three years within the MTEF through a LEASE FINANCING
ARRANGEMENT with First Bank Plc. Under this arrangement, NCAA would have
paid N100 Million by the end of fiscal year 2013. The sum is below the
appropriated amount of N240 Million and LESS than what is required for
FEC approval. It would appear that what the NCAA has done within the
framework of the MTEF and its desire to be prudent, is to plan its
budget in a manner that the cash flow of the Authority is able to
accommodate spending.
3.2.0 Justification for the Lease Financing of the 2 Nos BMW Cars
3.2.1 Honourable Chairman, the NCAA owes its very existence to the
benevolence and wisdom of the National Assembly expressed through the
promulgation of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act, 2006. As the regulator
of the entire aviation industry, the NCAA, pursuant to powers granted
under the Civil Aviation Act, 2006 makes and enforces Regulations
towards ensuring safety and security of Nigeria’s airspace. The NCAA in
addition, plays a pivotal role in carrying out Nigeria’s international
obligations and responsibilities. Our role in the Ministry and under
the law is what I have carried out which is to support this from a
policy and execution standpoint only.
3.2.2 NCAA has performed with distinction over the years ensuring
that Nigeria currently has attained the coveted Category One
certification of the U.S FAA; Nigeria is currently a member of the ICAO
Council with the strong probability that a Nigerian may emerge the
President of the ICAO Council in a matter of days, hopefully by the end
of the month of November, 2013 and on the 6th of December, 2013, both
the outgoing President and incoming President of ICAO will be in
Nigeria. The aggregate of the various victories of Nigeria in the
international arena, including the re-election of Nigeria as a
non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, is that Nigeria is
increasingly readdressing the negative perceptions about our nation.
3.2.3 The important thing about this certifications is that it
naturally requires the same, and sometimes higher levels of performance
to maintain. This is a matter of long term, continuous planning, and
seamless execution, which includes acquiring the right assets, tools,
equipment and people. The inadequacy and unreliability of NCAA existing
operational vehicles in part, due to old age and depreciation should
necessitate the acquisition of the new ones. Furthermore, with the
appointment of a new Director General, restructuring of the agency, the
need for additional operational tools, including vehicles became
imperative. Moreover, the fact that NCAA, as the regulator of the
industry, often plays host to dignitaries from ICAO and a host of other
international and regional organizations made it imperative to have
various specifications of operational vehicles including the purchase of
the 2 nos security/safety vehicles. Certification is a continuous
exercise in aviation and surveillance is a daily part of the operations
of the NCAA.
3.2.4 As pointed out above, Nigeria is an important player in ICAO
circles and Nigeria’s emergence as a member of the General Council has
increased the expectations in international aviation. Most importantly,
the expected emergence of a Nigerian as the President of the General
Council of ICAO will make Nigeria one of the most significant
destinations for actors in the international aviation sector. This will
place additional burdens on us as a nation.
3.2.5 Perhaps, these are the factors that the NCAA considered in
planning for the acquisition of the different specifications of vehicles
through a Lease Financing Arrangement. It is customary and obligatory
that we ensure the security and safe passage of all our international
guests, when they visit. Aviation, as well as other security, require
proactive and preventive measures.
3.2.6 It will not be in the interest of our nation for any of the
events above to occur and ought to be avoided at all cost. The NCAA
acted with the highest patriotic consideration within the ambit of the
Law and the Constitution.
3.3.0 Did NCAA Purchase 2 Nos Bulletproof Vehicles for Me as the Honourable Minister of Aviation?
3.3.1 Honourable members, another falsehood in the public domain
relating to this Lease Financing Arrangement is that the NCAA purchased
two bulletproof vehicles for me as the Honourable Minister of Aviation.
This is TOTALLY FALSE. The 2 nos security/safety BMW vehicles which the
NCAA acquired are for security and safety as appropriated by the NASS in
the 2013 budget in Item 6. The title documents which are in the names
of NCAA/FIRST BANK PLC, as well as spare keys of all the vehicles
purchased under the lease financing arrangement are currently with First
Bank of Nigeria, Plc as is the case with such arrangements and best
practice.
3.3.2 Honourable Chairman, in addressing the issue of authorization
by the NASS as contained in Item 6 of the budget, we invite your honours
to consider the narration. In the narration, your honours will observe
that the 2 nos security/safety vehicles are provided for distinctively.
They are separate from the other vehicles listed. The legislative
process, including the process of appropriation, involves a lot of
explanations by the beneficiaries of legislative powers in that regard,
but when the explanations eventually find merit and is passed, all that
happened preceding the passage of the Law may not be a necessary recall.
3.3.3 Your Honours, I draw attention to this fact because of the
erroneous belief in some quarters that, because in the course of the
NCAA defending its budget proposal for 2013, it had to return to the
NASS a few times to explain their proposal, therefore the purchase was
never appropriated. This may not be totally correct as 2 nos
security/safety vehicles were provided for.
3.3.4 There was nothing in the approved documents reflecting my
name, when the budget was being made. At no time did I ever request for
any vehicle from the NCAA. It was the agency that had the need and made
the request to the Federal Ministry of Aviation. After the purchase on a
3 year Lease Financing arrangement, the vehicles were never delivered
to me. The vehicles were also not registered in my name but that of the
agency. All I did was to approve the request of the Agency subject to
the Agency doing the needful as evidenced by my minutes on the letter
dated 15th April, 2013.
3.3.5 Honourable Chairman, on the procurement procedure for the
lease arrangement for the acquisition of the vehicles, let me reiterate
that from the records available to me, it would appear that the NCAA
followed the due process required by law. As we gather here today, I
have been made to understand that there exist no guidelines issued by
the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) on lease financing.
3.3.6 Despite this lacuna, the NCAA determined to ensure fair
participation invited all the Banks in Nigeria to bid for and or express
interest in the transaction. The Federal Ministry of Aviation under my
watch has always been mindful of the need to ensure that we act in a
prudent manner and within the ambit of the law and this can be testified
to by the tremendous transformation that has occurred in the sector in
the last 2 years.
3.3.7. Specifically, I wish to draw the attention of this
Honourable Committee to the procedure adopted by the NCAA in procuring
the operational vehicles:
i. On the 15th of April, 2013 an
official letter was written by the NCAA requesting for approval to
procure operational vehicles through Lease Financing. The NCAA’s letter
is annexed herein as Annexure FMA “2”.
ii. On the 25th of April, 2013 approval
was conveyed to NCAA for the acquisition of operational vehicles
through Lease Financing. The letter annexed is Annexure FMA “3”.
iii. On the strength of the above letter
of approval, the NCAA got the list of all Banks in Nigeria on 7th May,
2013 and circulated a Request for Expression of Interest on the
financing of the lease. The letters to all the Banks requesting for
Expression of Interest (EOI) are annexed as Annexures FMA “4 – 22”.
iv. On 24th May, 2013 the Request for
Expression of Interest (EOI) was publicly opened. Three Banks submitted
proposals.
v. The Evaluation of the Expression of
Interests was held on 31st May, 2013 during which First Bank Plc, Union
Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC responded.
vi. On the 10th June, 2013 the above
three banks were invited to submit Financial Proposals. Thereafter,
First Bank of Nigeria, Plc emerged the highest rated responsive bidder.
vii. Between 20th and 25th June, 2013 NCAA
received invoices from various accredited motor vehicle dealers during
which only Coscharis Motors Limited quoted for BMW Bulletproof
Vehicles. Copies of the invoices are attached as Annexure FMA “23 -
42”.
viii. On 28th June, 2013 NCAA Parastatal
Tenders Board approved the selection of First Bank of Nigeria, Plc for
the Lease Financing as well as Metropolitan Motor Vehicles and Coscharis
for the supply of the vehicles. This approval was predicated on the
due process documentations done by the NCAA.
ix. On 1st July, 2013 the NCAA sought the
approval based on the invoices and the final negotiations with the
financing Banks.
x. Based on the outcome of the
negotiations as contained in the invoices from the Banks, on 5th July,
2013 I conveyed the approval of the Federal Ministry of Aviation. The
letters dated 5th July, 2013 is annexed as Annexure FMA “43”.
xi. I am aware that between 8th July,
2013 to 12th August, 2013 various meetings were held with First Bank of
Nigeria, Plc and necessary documentations were carried out. A copy of
the Letter of Offer of Credit Facility containing the terms of the
relationship dated 30th July, 2013 is attached as Annexure FMA “44”.
xii. On 13th August, 2013 the suppliers of
the vehicles were contacted at the instance of First Bank of Nigeria,
Plc.
xiii. It is my understanding that by the end
of this year, the total amount to be paid by NCAA to First Bank of
Nigeria, Plc will be 100 Million Naira only based on an understanding
the NCAA has with the Bank and the balance of 16 Million Naira only will
be paid in the following year.
xiv. It is also my understanding that the
deal between the NCAA and First Bank of Nigeria Plc which came to a
total sum of N643M is a mere understanding and not an obligation that is
why it is included in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework which could
be called off in the event that the two parties decide to discontinue
hence all title documents are in the joint names of NCAA and First Bank
of Nigeria, Plc.
xv. It is my understanding that by the end
of this year, the total amount to be paid by NCAA to First Bank of
Nigeria, Plc will be 100 Million Naira only based on an understanding
the NCAA has with the Bank and the balance of 16 Million Naira only will
be paid in the following year.
3.3.8. The Honourable Committee may wish to confirm that the NCAA sent out Expression of Interest (EOIs) to the following banks:
1. Sterling Bank Plc
2. Zenith Bank Plc
3. Keystone Bank Limited
4. Access Bank Plc
5. Diamond Bank Plc
6. Skye Bank Plc
7. Standard Chatered Bank Nig Ltd
8. Mainstreet Bank Limited
9. Union Bank of Nigeria Plc
10.Unity Bank Plc
11.Fidelity Bank Plc
12.Guaranteed Trust Bank Plc
13.Ecobank Plc
14.United Bank for Africa Plc
15.First City Monument Bank Plc
16.First Bank of Nigeria Plc
17.Wema Bank Plc
18.Citi Bank Plc
19.Equitorial Trust Bank Limited
20.Enterprise Bank Plc
21.Stanbic IBTC Plc
22.Heritage Bank Limited
3.3.9. Your Honours, ladies and gentlemen, our nation is at a cross
road in its history. The transformation agenda of Mr. President has
changed our ways of doing things significantly. Mr. President recognized
the infrastructural deficit in our nation and has taken very bold steps
to address this and in order to bequeath to the next generation a
nation that can compete favourably in the comity of nations and imbue
our next generation with pride and patriotism.
3.3.10. The massive investment and the aggressive
implementation of this agenda have seen the aviation sector being
transformed. Today, 22 Airports owned by the Federal Government are at
various stages of becoming decent and world class terminals. Nigeria’s
airspace is now rated among the safest in the world with the deployment
of modern navigational equipments and infrastructures. The capacity of
the whole sector has been strengthened with the relevant regulations in
place and the training and retraining of personnel. Our National
Aviation Policy has been reviewed to chart the path to a safer sector.
The plan to give Nigeria a national carrier is at an advanced stage of
implementation. The desire to create an aviation sector that is self
sustaining is being pursued aggressively.
3.3.11. Conversely, efforts to bring change to the aviation
sector are being resisted by entrenched interests that have been
ripping off the nation. We have had to put our foot down in order to
halt the rape of our national patrimony. We have had to confront forces
that have held the sector hostage. My team and I will not fold our arms
and complain and not lift a finger to do anything. We dared to act; we
have indeed acted, convinced that it was in the national interest to do
so.
3.3.11. We are not at our destination yet, but witnesses to
the rot of yesteryears are now proud of the ongoing transformation in
the sector. What we are doing in the sector, together with the effort in
other equally important sectors, have given hope to the mass of our
people that we can do something, apart from complaining, about the decay
in our national life.
3.3.12. Towards this end, the purveyors of the rot and
corruption that has characterized the sector have continued to fight
back every inch of the way. The latest false and wicked allegation of
purchase of 2 nos bulletproof cars for me by the NCAA is one of such
fights to discredit my team and give the impression that our reforms
lack credibility. But we assure them that Nigerians now know better.
4.0 Conclusion
4.1 Honourable Chairman and members, we have made all of these
explanations because we believe that the essence of this hearing is to
confirm whether we acted responsibly and in the best interest of our
nation and within the framework of the Constitution and the Law. We
believe that all of this is meant to make our nation and her citizens
have the best value for whatever money is appropriated and spent. It is
in this belief and our duty under the Law and the Constitution that we
have placed all materials involved in this transaction before you in
order that you may be able to arrive at a fair and just determination in
the larger interest of our people.
4.2 We reiterate that NCAA has not spent any money not
appropriated by the National Assembly. Indeed what they have spent so
far on ALL the vehicles acquired through the Lease Financing Arrangement
with First Bank of Nigeria Plc is N52,000,000.00 (Fifty Two Million
Naira only). By so doing, they have saved the nation cost and the
possible embarrassment that may arise if the events we have pointed out
earlier were to occur.
4.3 We further reiterate that the NCAA DID NOT purchase 2 nos
bullet proof vehicles for me as the Honourable Minister of Aviation. We
reiterate that the NCAA purchased 2 nos security vehicles for the
operations of the NCAA in line with monies approved for the NCAA under
the Appropriated Act passed by the National
Assembly.
4.4 Thank you for the opportunity afforded me to make this presentation and for your patience in listening to us.
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