The House of Representatives’ Committee on Aviation says it will make its findings on the alleged purchase of two armoured cars for the Minister of Aviation public as soon as possible.
After questioning the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah and other officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), on Thursday, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, told reporters that the committee would consider its findings and come up with its report.
Oduah dismissed allegations that the two armoured cars procured by the NCAA were purchased for her.
The minister told the committee that the procurement was captured in the 2013 budget as approved by the National Assembly and that she only gave conditional approval for the procurement.
The Committee had summoned the minister to clarify issues surrounding the procurement of two armoured BMW cars at the cost of 255 million Naira (about 1.6 million dollars).
While the minister was responding to the committee’s questions, a group of protesters were outside the National Assembly chanting songs in her support.
It was the first chance to hear from the minister on her role in the procurement.
The minister also spoke on the legality of the purchase.
Earlier, in a response to President Goodluck Jonathan’s query on the procurement, the Minister said that the purchase was “towards the effective implementation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority’s statutory regulatory responsibilities.
“It is imperative that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority is fully equipped with highly specialised tools and facilities, including adequate operational vehicles to cover all 22 national airports and over 400 airstrips.”
