Abuja Airport: Keyamo Rejects Contract Variation Of N532bn For 2nd Runway …Seeks fresh bidding
Oru Leonard
The Minister of Aviation and AeroSpace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Wednesday, vehemently rejected the outrageous contract variation of N532 billion from N90 billion awarded to the contractor handling the 2nd runway of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Keyamo who made this declaration while fielding questions from members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation, during budget defence session with the Committee, said that the contract had been revoked for fresh bidding by interested contractors.
He said: “After the N3.4 billion post-contract consultancy fee was paid to the contractor handling the project in May 2023, N90 billion was later paid in the same year for the whole contract, out of which N30 billion was released.
“The contractor after receiving the N30billion and joining the federal capital territory Administration to compensate some settlers on the affected land, left the site. All efforts made thereafter to get the contractor back to the site proved abortive on the grounds of unacceptable contract variation being demanded.
“The contractor in question is demanding for contract variation of N532billion from the original sum of N90billion the contract was awarded for. To us in the Ministry, the said variation is nothing but a fraud, leaving us with no option than to cancel the contract and call for fresh bids”
Members of the Committee also asked the Minister why the N36 billion owed to workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways, was not reflected in the Ministry’s 2025 budget for required payment.
The Minister in his response, said payment for the N36 billion had been shifted to the Ministry of Finance since the money was not meant for capital projects.
“The affected pensioners would soon get their dues from the Ministry of Finance and not from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. I met with leaders of the joint unions on this in November last year and they agreed to arrangement put on ground”, he said.
