The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets has recently declared its intention to conduct an inquiry into the purported transaction involving the sale of two training helicopters by the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, located in Zaria.
In a press statement issued on Monday, the Committee, led by Chairman Hon. Ademorin Kuye, acknowledged its awareness of the matter following media reports on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The reports alleged the sale of 2 Bell 206L-3 helicopters, which were originally procured as public assets for the purpose of training pilots at the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology in Zaria, at a cost of N1.2 billion.
Kuye said, “The Sale of the Helicopters under the pretext of underutilization by the authorities of the College of Aviation in March 2023 has now become a symptom of the worrying trend of asset stripping in all sector of the economy by all MDAs toward the twilight of the last administration.
“This is despite the offer of Nigerian Navy to acquire same and possibly use to address the security challenge facing the country in the area of oil pipeline vandalization and crude oil theft. The committee equally feels the assets could have been converted to the use of Nigerian Police to fight banditry and insurgency in the country.”
He added that the urgency in the sales and concession of public assets at the twilight of the last administration calls for “suspicion since the supposed approval was gotten from that administration.”
The aviation committee chairman added, “ It is only right that the new regime is allowed to be part of the completion of the sale process if there are no hidden agendas.
“Therefore, the House Committee on Public Assets as constituted will investigate the sale of these important training national assets to ensure that due process is followed and that the country is not shortchanged in this deal.”
