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FG Blows $1.478bn On Suspended Nigeria Air, Others
In an unprecedented profligacy, the Federal Government has spent over $ 1. 478 billion on the national airline contract and a shipping line deal with PIL, a shipping giant of Singapore.
About $ 1.478 billion has already been spent on the suspended proposed National Window Project, Israeli Waterways contract by the Federal Ministry of Transportation under the supervisor of Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi as stakeholders described the wastage as a laurel for idiocy and misapplication of scarce funds.
Another $300million was spent on the suspended Nigeria Air Project which was expected to kick start a new national airline in December.
This morning, political activists, were all united in condemning the spokesman of the aviation arm of the Transportation Ministry, Mr. James Odaudu, who on behalf of his principal, Senator Hadi Sirika, Minister of State for Aviation, announced the suspension of the project in a terse statement on his social media account.
Odaudu, who did not give any reason for the suspension, attributed the suspension to his principal, Senator Hadi Sirika, Minister of State for Aviation.
He wrote, “I regret to announce that the Federal Council has taken the tough decision to suspend the National carrier project in the interim. All commitment due will be honoured. We thank the public for the support as always. Hadi Sirika”
Many Nigerians had expressed joy over announcement of the airline as a replacement for the defunct Nigeria Airways. Some had expressed pessimism on the possibility of the airline working as according to them, there was nothing on ground to support.
However, while reacting to the suspension, former Education Minister, Dr. Oby Ezekwelesi had severally tweeted that the Airline Project was programmed to fail.
Also in his reaction, a Lagos based legal practitioner, Barrister Bassey Okon told The Tide that the move was a misplaced priority: a government whose policy is not sensitive to the people cannot be expected to work with the feelings of the people, adding that this is a government that is not focused.
Look at the policy inconsistency of the government and how they returned unspent budgetary allocation last year, so they have to create avenues to siphon the money before the end of the year, when they would be asked to make refunds. “We have a government with no focus, that is directionless”, he said.
While Baale, Otto-Awori, Chief Alhaji Wright, said the government saw this as an easy means of siphoning the nation’s resources.
He claimed that it was unfortunate that there was a government in place, yet the country’s priorities were not considered.
“We have a government in place, yet the Lagos – Seme Badagry road, an international route that leads to many African countries is a total shambles, yet the government wasted such a huge amount on the suspended scam.
“It is unfortunate the government does not see anything important in fixing the international routes in order to avoid unnecessary deaths these Ember months when people would travel enmasse to their towns and countries for festivals.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic