Aviation ministry owes N153bn

The total indebtedness of the Federal Ministry of Aviation has dropped from N174bn to N153bn, the ex-Supervising Minister in charge of the ministry, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has revealed.

This is coming as the ministry disclosed that the Federal Government had given due process approval for the construction of a second runway for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Speaking at the official handing over ceremony to the new Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, Ortom stated that the ministry’s huge indebtedness had been reduced by N21bn.

Ortom, who is also the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, said a committee that was set up to work on ways to cut down the debt was able to come up with measures that saw to the offsetting of N21bn.

“The committee’s work is still going on up till today. The members have not concluded their work, but as of today, because of other modifications and payments that have been made, we have been able to bring it (N174bn debt) down to N153bn,” he said.

In June, Ortom had told the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation of plans by the ministry to introduce development charges in all the nation’s airports in a bid to clear the N174bn debt.

The committee had described the debt as alarming and stated that it would take more than 20 years to clear it.

During the handing over ceremony on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mrs. Jemila Shua’ra, said the government, through the efforts of Ortom, had given due process approval for the construction of the Abuja airport’s second runway.

“He (Ortom) made sure that the Abuja airport runway was rehabilitated as you are aware of the closure of the runway on two separate occasions recently. He was also able to get approval for us to commence the due process for the second Abuja airport runway,” she said.

Chidoka, in his remarks, pledged to ensure safety of the nation’s airspace and security of airports across Nigeria.

He said, “Safety and security will be the two cardinal points for me as a minister in this sector. I’m here to build on what exists, measure where we are, take a snapshot of where we are today and then see how we can move one step forward, if not two.

“I pledge to deliver service to the Nigerian people, because sometimes the agencies and parastatals forget that they are there for Nigerians. In the next few weeks, we are going to listen to a lot of people, and if there is a master plan and other things, we are going to review them.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government said on Thursday that the ongoing remodelling of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja would be completed by the end of this year.

The project is being financed from the $500m loan secured by the Federal Government from the Chinese government for the remodelling of the Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano airports. The loan has a seven-year moratorium and interest payments totalling $113.9m.

Addressing journalists during an inspection tour of the airport and light rail projects being executed by the Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Company, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the projects were among those prioritised by the Federal Government based on President Goodluck Jonathan’s directives.

The minister explained the Abuja airport project was about 30 per cent complete, adding that the December target date for its completion would be achieved.

She said, “My impression is very good. The work is proceeding well; it is 30 per cent completed, but they are pushing. We have told them that they must complete one out of the four (airports) and they have said they will complete the one in Abuja by the end of the year for Mr. President to inaugurate.

“The quality seems solid. The design looks good. So, we are really looking forward to a new terminal that looks like anyone else in the world and Nigerians will be very proud. I am quite excited because what I saw.”

In his remarks, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gu Xiaojie, gave an assurance that CCECC was committed to completing the project on schedule.