N63.5 billion 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 wealth.
The Senate called on the federal government to reduce
the unrealistic cost of construction and for the
government to monitor the contract award process.
Presenting the motion, Senator Melaye said that the
contract for the construction of the runway was
previously cancelled by the last administration after
allegation of over inflation of contract.
Melaye, said 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.”
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.“
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.“
The Senate President also complained about the cost and
said that there was the need to stop what he described
as the reckless expenditures, while awarding contracts
in the country.
Vanguard
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