Wednesday, March 17, 2010


Goodluck Jonathan dissolved the federal cabinet made up of 42 federal ministers today, to create room for a new start, but he has almost immediately been met with an outrageous new challenge from Nigerian senators who are demanding N16 million per new minister. Each of the 109 Senators would have to collect close to that amount for each of the ministers approved for Jonathan whenever he reconstitutes the cabinet –(This mean N16 million times 42 for every Senator to collect).

According to the Nigerian constitution, the Upper House is required to approve of federal ministers before they can be sworn in, and they are usually approved on a "Bow & Go" basis, with the Senators putting in almost no work. Saharareporters sources said the practice of bribing Senators to approve ministers is not new but Jonathan’s peculiar circumstance has led to a higher inflation of the bribe money by 100% from what it used to be under Yar’Adua, who would normally send his cronies in the Ministry of Agriculture, Customs and the NNPC to do the bidding for him.

Apart from the cost to the presidency, each of the ministers awaiting approval also has to bribe the special committees in charge of their portfolio in order to enjoy approval. It costs an average minister N200 million to sail successfully through the senate.

It is after that that they simply require the prospective Minister to appear before them, take a bow, and leave without being troubled with any questions.
Pay-for-play: Senators want N16 million (each), for each new Minister

Federal Executive Council dissolved; EFCC, INEC


Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has dissolved the Federal Executive Council. Saharareporters had reported a few days ago that federal ministers, perhaps sensing such a development, had been removing personal effects from their respective offices since last week. Mr. Jonathan may have opted for the total dissolution of the cabinet, put in place in 2007 by ailing Nigeria leader, Umaru Yar'Adua, as a means of asserting his control of the council.

Saharareporters sources said Yar'Adua's so-called "recovery" is slow and difficult. Not only is his physical frame bent completely, but contrary to the propaganda disseminated by his hopeful cronies, he remains unable to speak or walk.

Jonathan is said to have announced the dissolution at the end of today's meeting. His approach meant that while everyone walked in as a Minister, they all walked out unemployed. Today's development may have been particularly painful for the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, who was attending his first meeting as Minister of Special Duties following his return from vacation.

No replacements for the Ministers have been announced,and none may happen until two weeks, as Mr. Jonathan will have to go through Senate approval of his nominees, but a source told Saharareporters that over 500 politicians seeking political appointments have taken over Abuja's major five-star hotels to lobby or be lobbied for.

Political analysts told Saharareporters that it is easy enough to dissolve the cabinet, but Jonathan may face an uphill task to reconstitute it, especially as threats continue to emanate from lawmakers, who are polarized along regional lines, about cooperating with Jonathan.

Jonathan's next targets, given what he has said since assuming office, are likely to be the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the leaderships of which are expected to be changed.

While Maurice Iwu, who heads the electoral body, may be sacked by Jonathan, he would not have the authority, if the recommendations of the new electoral law are adopted, to unilaterally appoint his successor. Those recommendations provide for INEC to be unbundled into different bodies, and for the judiciary to advertise the leaderships, and narrow down the candidates.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Gbenga Daniel and Nigeria’s citizen-slavery mentality




My brothers and sisters, You must have read of a passenger who boarded a flight with Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel but was molested out of his seat and so has threatened to sue the government.

The issue was supposed to be very simple, but it ended as a very complicated matter. Both decorum and civility were thrown aboard when security details of Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel humiliated a co-passenger on a Lagos-bound flight from Abuja.

The passenger, Mr Greg Osu, had bought a business class ticket and taken his seat for a smooth flight. But the comfort he paid for was soon short-changed for discomfort by the security details with the governor. They asked him to get off the seat because the governor was to sit next to it. The confused passenger did not understand why and how his position was an encumbrance to that of the governor. He protested.

But his complaint only drew the ire of the overzealous security aides. They threatened to deal with him on getting to Lagos.

The confusion attracted the attention of other passengers, who expressed surprise and anger over the violation of innocent passengers rights by those paid to protect them.

The pilot was contacted. He looked helpless, considering the personality involved. But he managed to placate the aggrieved passenger by relegating him to the economy class and appealed to the security aides to allow peace to reign.

But the governor’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC) threatened fire and brimstone against the hapless passenger, to teach him a lesson about how not to behave when a governor demands privileges.

Defending Otumba Gbenga Daniel, one Amoke Obafemi insisted that Mr Osu behaved very badly. He said it was not proper for him to insist he wants to sit right next to the Governor when there were still 2 more seats in the business class cabin. In his opinion, he was merely looking for trouble.

But disagreeing with him Professor Pius Adesanmi narrated the story in Ottawa of a Nigerian who went to the cinema and when the lights came on in the movie theatre after the film was over, he was shocked to discover that the man sitting right next to him, munching pop corn in the dark, was no other than Stephen Harper, the Canadian Prime Minister.

The story if true is absolutely possible and plausible. He goes on to state his own fair share of such unexpected contacts with Ministers and other top government officials in France; “You are in the library at the Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris. Next thing you know, a familiar face grabs the seat next to you and you are shocked: wait a minute! This is Rama Yade, The Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs!”

My humble self have sat side by side with members of British Parliament in the Jubilee line London, travelling towards Westminster station. I once casually walked past David Cameron and George Osborne at the Parliament Square on my way to work.

I have stood side by side with Diane Abbot, the Member of Parliament representing Hackney while waiting for a Taxi. I have stood a few metres away from Ministers being interviewed by Journalists in that park opposite the House of Parliament.

If you have been to Westminster, you will marvel at the ease with which tourists get near the seat of power- 10 Downing Street and the House of Parliament.

Mr Adesanmi also told how he had been to Union House - the Aso Rock of SA - in Pretoria and “any Nigerian who lives in Pretoria would tell you that the ease of access to that place is pretty annoying and frustrating to a Nigerian. You can't be in Union House in Pretoria without thinking that the idiots in Abuja have framed Aso Rock as a place that cannot be approached by the ordinary Nigerian. In essence, in civilized climes, government officials routinely wait for their turn in line - behind the citizen”.

According to Pius, the sort of tragic citizen-slavery mentality that has led to the statement by Mr. Amoke Obafemi who argued that "It was not proper for him to insist he wants to sit right next to the Governor when there were still 2 more seats in the business class cabin" is worrisome. “It underscores the overwhelming nature of our problems. We need to fix the psyche of a worsted and damaged citizenry before we can ever fix that country”.

“What Mr Obafemi has said above explains why the rulers of Nigeria have systematically destroyed civics in our school system. They want to produce a citizenry who feels it is improper for a Nigerian to sit beside a Governor, a Rep, a Minister, a Chieftain, a stakeholder, or an elder statesman in the plane. They want to manufacture a citizenry that feels grateful to be considered worthy of standing in the presence of a mere Local Government Chairman. And they have succeeded”.

“That is why Nigerians clap and ululate for their useless convoys instead of stoning and smashing those vehicles as they drive by. Meanwhile, these useless rulers send their kids to schools abroad to acquire the civic awareness they deny our people in Nigeria. Their kids even go learn civics in Lome and Accra!”

He concluded; “Who is Gbenga Daniel that a citizen of Nigeria cannot seat beside him in the plane? Where do we start? How do we re-educate our people? How do we let them know that these buffoons who use state power to harass and oppress them are actually their servants and it is ok for a Maiguard - if he has the money and bought his ticket - to sit beside Gbenga Daniel in the plane? How do we demystify power in Nigeria”?

Nigerians, we need to change our mindset and the way we view men of power. Back home I viewed with distaste our penchant for bowing before these buffoons. I nearly choked on my food two weeks ago when I was a journalist on Television bowed to the earth to shake hands with Governor Babangida Aliyu who didn’t even bother to look at him as the governor was coming out of a meeting of the Governors Forum in Abuja. Looking at his face afterwards you would think he has just shaken the hands of Angel Gabriel!

Even in my days in the Law School, I refused to get up from my seat as other students rushed to queue up and shake hands with Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju at the Government House, Awka.

Everyone knows that the most inaccessible people in the United Kingdom are the Royal Household. But Prince Charles saw no problem with coming towards me to shake my hands at the Tate Gallery in Westminster London. Interestingly, his entourage on that occasion consists of just one aide.

But in Nigeria, Dimeji Bankole, David Mark, not to talk Otunba Gbenga Daniel and presently, Goodluck Jonathan will not step out of Aso Villa without at least 20 vehicles and dozens of aides in tow!

I once parked my car by the side of the road for more than two hours under the hot sun of Oshodi, Lagos to wait for then President Olusegun Obasanjo – who might not have left his house in Otta – to pass through.

We must change our mindset and the way we view men of power. Changing this mindset and forcing our citizens to abdicate an obsequious and deferential attitude is a job that must be done if we are to step forward. If not, how are we ever going to hold anyone accountable?

To Dominic Ogbonna, politicians are not the only ones who benefit from our exaggerated deference to those with wealth and power. “Most of us who reside abroad are big-time beneficiaries as well. When you visit Nigeria, people respect you not for anything you have accomplished for them, or for yourself, but simply because, you reside in a different part of the planet! It’s scandalous. It’s embarrassing.

“Wherever you look among Nigerians, there are people looking to reap respect and privilege where they have not sown. It's got to stop. This is 2010, and anybody who wants respect or extraordinary consideration in anything must be held accountable for earning it”.

Otunba Gbenga Daniel owes Mr Greg Osu an unreserved apology.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Save Nigeria Now.















Abuja 10 March, 2010

Your Excellency,

Petition from Save Nigeria Group (SNG)

We, the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), a coalition of pro-democracy and human rights organizations and patriotic Nigerians who desire the entrenchment of a truly democratic and accountable governance hereby petition you on certain developments that can truncate democracy and security in Nigeria. We believe in Nigeria and are determined to fight to save the country from the control of groups and individuals that profit from the failure of the Nigerian system.
2. For more than 100 days, Nigerians have not seen or heard from President Umaru Musa Yar’adua since he was evacuated to Saudi Arabia for treatment. For the 3 months he reportedly stayed in an intensive care unit of a Saudi hospital, several of his aides continued to claim that the President was getting better. Some claimed he had started intense physical exercises. It is now more than two weeks since he was brought back to Nigeria in the dead of the night. We have not still heard from or seen President Yar’adua.
3. The refusal of President Yar’adua to resign from office on account of his deteriorating ill-health and failure to transmit a letter of vacation on time as required by the Constitution has resulted in a severe but avoidable constitutional crisis. This crisis has compounded other political challenges caused by an electoral system that is designed to aid electoral malpractices. This dysfunctional electoral system threatens democracy and good governance in Nigeria.
4. In other to save Nigeria from real and present dangers, the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) demands:
• An end to the invisible Presidency of Yar’adua by activating Section 144 of the Constitution so that presidential powers will be fully accountable;

• The dissolution of the present Executive Council of the Federation which has largely collaborated with presidential aides to foist this crisis on the nation; and

• Quick and thorough implementation of the Uwais Report on electoral reform starting with the immediate removal of Professor Maurice Iwu as Chairman and the reconstitution of the INEC with persons of impeccable integrity and competence.
5. We will continue to mobilize Nigerians to engage in public action, including protests, sit-at-homes and strike actions until these demands are fully implemented in the interest of peace, security and genuine democracy in Nigeria.
6. Please accept our highest esteem and support.



Pastor Tunde Bakare
For: SAVE NIGERIA GROUP

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Just what we need. Another weak leader.


You won’t believe the confession I’m about to make. I actually missed Baba Iyabo, General Matthew Olusegun Okikiolakan Aremu Obasanjo, last Tuesday, when I saw the swagger of some of our Governors on television in London. For a moment, I actually thought a new Acting President had been chosen from their rank. There was this particular Governor who looked so imperial and was busy firing orders at the Acting President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, just like teachers do to a recalcitrant student. Holy Moses, I screamed! What is Nigeria turning into? It was obviously a payback time for the avuncular protection of his benefactors.

The thrust of their retrogressive position was their well-advertised closeness to President Umaru Yar’ Adua. They even roped in the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola as being one of those very close to the sick President. Please, tell me what such fabled closeness has earned Lagos, where all the Federal roads and other institutions remain in shambles, and Fashola is being discouraged by Federal agents from clearing off their mess. So Nigeria must bleed to death because of the bloated egos of a few people who can’t appreciate how transient power is. (By the way, I saw on the same network news as the former Governor of Nasarawa, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, was being led into a Federal High Court in Lafia, on 149-count charge for corruption, by EFCC operatives. He looked pitiable and devoid of his old confidence.) No condition is permanent.

Where were those Governors when Baba Iyabo reigned supreme in Abuja for eight years and nearly added four years as top-up? These same guys could not muster a whimper at the time. In fact, most of them used to flock around Baba to re-assure him of their unflinching loyalty. The fear of Nuhu Ribadu then was the beginning of wisdom. They knew Baba Iyabo would waste no time in dusting up their dirty files. He would have unearthed all the giant worms in their cans, and the fat skeletons in their wardrobes. A prompt impeachment would have been arranged in the middle of the night by the kidnapped members of the House of Assembly. What haven’t we seen before in our country?

These Governors had broken themselves into two sections weeks ago and held the so-called Northern Governors Forum summit where they threw their weight behind the ailing President. In less than two days after, the same group made a volte-face when they joined the rest of their colleagues and said they now believed Jonathan should be allowed to act as President. One of the first obligations performed by Dr Jonathan was to sign off a fat cheque to the Governors from the excess crude sales account. Who didn’t understand the rules of the game? These same Governors would later come back to tell Nigerians that we should wait for Yar’ Adua to fully recover, and that the impending impeachment was out of the question. As if that was not bad enough, they are moaning that the Acting President did not consult them before constituting his Advisory Committee headed by respected former Army General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma. I’ll like to ask if they ever consulted anyone before they hired and fired their multitude of aides.

Say what you will, Baba Iyabo was the kind of President Nigeria needed; iron-fisted, egocentric, brave, combustive, temperamental, ruthless, ambitious, and much more; but, unfortunately, he couldn’t translate those attributes into making Nigeria a better nation. No Governor would have had the temerity to talk down on Baba Iyabo the way they did to Dr Jonathan this week. Now we have an apparently incapacitated President; a most audacious First Lady; and an incredibly soft Acting President. How blessed or cursed can a country be? The Legislature is blowing hot and cold. We have just been told the health of the President is beyond discussion. What is more important than the virtual disappearance of the President of Africa’s biggest nation without any trace in hundred days? The popular refrain in our new national anthem is “it is not a crime to be sick.” I wonder who criminalised the President’s sickness if not his family, and those cronies who have chosen to make a fetish of what ordinary people go through in life.

What exactly are they hiding if not to make proceeds from the misfortune of a man who deserves our respect and prayers at this difficult time? Has the President contracted a disease that is unknown to the medical books or why this recourse to abracadabra? The party which claims to be the biggest democracy agent in Africa has already pre-determined those who can contest the next election and those who cannot. The party’s politburo has even completely ruled out a large chunk of the country from fielding a presidential candidate. There are strong indications that our omnipotent First Lady may decide to contest in her own capacity, or toss a coin between her well-positioned in-laws to determine who should go first lest the daughters exchange fisticuffs. This is our dear old Nigeria, the land of possibilities.

And who says the President cannot rule from anywhere? A President may soon enter the book of records as ruling from the grave, courtesy of unprincipled politicians. We now have an e-President, unseen but very effective, running a government by remote control. The Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, spewed out some odoriferous comments as he came out of one of their meetings. He said he likes the Acting President, because “Goodluck Jonathan is not an ambitious man.”

Now we know we have a party of people without the requisite ambition to move our nation forward in the right direction. Ambitious people always dream big, like the oil sheikhs in Dubai and Qatar. Our own prodigal sons would rather fly aimlessly to Saudi Arabia in search of treatment instead of building their own hospitals at home. They’ll rather waste our money in search of a President they know would never be found. An ambitious Chairman would not have embarked on the merry-go-round to Saudi where he could not even see his own President. We sent six powerful Ministers all the way to Saudi Arabia to meet a Foreign Minister who would help transmit our gratitude to the Saudi King for looking after our President in his royal hospital.

Then the Governors added their own insults to the festering injury, by telling the Acting President to forget the idea of impeaching a chronically ill President. They even told him he has to sanction his boisterous ministers and turn them into robots. I wouldn’t have minded if these were stark illiterates who lacked the knowledge of modern politics but some of them were sent to good schools by their parents only to end up in the mud of Nigerian politics. What manner of backwardness are these guys trying to force on our nation when Ministers can no longer disagree in public? The future of Nigeria cannot be safe in the hands of some of these guys who see power as an end in itself.

Please, where is Baba Iyabo? I’ll bet my last kobo that he would have slapped a few of these guys black and blue. Let’s give honour to who it is due. No governor, no matter how delirious, would have found the courage to give Baba Iyabo such disrespectful instructions. The harbinger of such spurious message would have been forced to confess both his sins of commission and omission in a jiffy. The message itself would have evaporated as quickly as it was conceived.

I’m beginning to think that it is a crime to be a gentleman in Nigeria. Goodluck Jonathan is being forced to pay the price of being a level-headed politician. The joke in town is that Jonathan is the only man born in the creeks of Bayelsa who’s not a militant. He’s a perfect gentleman who would never attempt to rock the boat. The other joke flying around is that “Goodluck and Patience got married but they’ve not been able to give birth to a child called Courage.” But jokes apart, the Governors have clearly demonstrated that they are disconnected from the people they claim to serve. I’ll love to examine the logic behind their irascible actions. What is very painful is that a few Governors are committing these atrocities in the name of all the Governors, including the few good ones among them.

Let’s start with the North-South dichotomy. Zoning is no where enshrined in our Constitution. When did the wishes of PDP become synonymous with the aspirations of Nigerians? How many Nigerians in reality are card-carrying members of PDP? Why must PDP continue to delude itself that Nigerians would continue to allow the type of rigging the party seemed to have perfected over the years? Every Nigerian I know except the few hawks in power are ashamed of what politicians are doing to our collective psyche. The argument that Jonathan cannot contest presidential election next year is not tenable no matter how hard they try.

Are they saying even if Jonathan achieves what no Nigerian has been able to fix in 50 years, they’ll force him to step down for a Northern candidate? How can a country as potentially great as Nigeria become reduced to the level of a woman who’s being gang-raped by hoodlums? Most Nigerians are dying for good, efficient and accountable governance, irrespective of where such leader comes from. Zoning can no longer be elevated to the level of religion. I’m reasonably convinced the North has advanced beyond the primordial sentiments being promoted by a few oligarchs on its behalf. These are the set of leaders who have mercilessly impoverished the North almost beyond redemption.

I challenge the so-called champions of Northern interests to come out and show how they’ve developed the North. Instead, they have only succeeded in breeding some of the bitterest youths in the land by siphoning out the resources meant for their general wellbeing. Unlike in the past, the Northern youths are now aware of the issues at stake and better poised to reject the age-old tradition that has kept them down without justification. I know, because I encounter many of these bright guys and ladies on the internet and everywhere I travel.

My prediction is if Jonathan performs well, Nigerians will not worry about where he comes from. He’s a true citizen of Nigeria who has not displayed unbridled lust for power like his colleagues. He has exercised great caution, unlike those who want to set Nigeria on fire at all costs. Is it not only reasonable to promote the candidacy of an Ijaw man as President now that the near-impossible opportunity has presented itself? Jonathan did not throw himself up. He was chosen by an uncommon destiny. Why are these Governors trying to play ethnic card against him?


They alleged that he chose a Northern Christian and a Southern Christian to head his body of advisers. Where were they when two Muslims, Chief Moshood Abiola and Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe contested election in Nigeria as President and Vice President? Didn’t the Christians vote for them? The Governors cannot continue the old game of playing ethnic and religious cards in order to perpetually enslave us all. What has the zoning achieved for Nigeria other than for a few parasites to gain access to power and by extension an atrocious acquisition of wealth?

Let me even play the devil’s advocate here. What happens if a sick President dies in power? Are the Governors saying his Vice President would not be immediately sworn in? And if and when he’s sworn in, would he be told that he’s only a houseboy who cannot aspire to the high office because he’s been disqualified on account of his place of birth? What nonsense? Let me even stretch it further. If the understanding of the zoning formula is about equality and fair-play, Jonathan is more qualified to run for the next presidential election. He comes from an area that produces our wealth. Yet no President has ever emerged from that zone. Now that one has emerged miraculously, and due to no fault or scheming of his, the Governors are telling him to perish the thought.

Since those who should protect our hard-earned democracy have chosen to toy dangerously with it, the Nigerian people must rise up once again to rescue our nation from these hijackers who would stop at nothing to retain power at all costs. We must assist Jonathan in finding his bearing and the courage to stand up to these bullies. I’m happy that Lt. Gen. T. Y Danjuma has already told Dr Jonathan that there is no time to waste. If and when Jonathan begins to wield the big stick, the conspirators will begin to toe the line. He has nothing to lose if he goes ahead to run the government his own way. He should go ahead and show that he’s indeed the Acting President and Commander-in-Chief and not a houseboy. It is a chance of a lifetime to end this slavery.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

EFCC seizes Atuche’s multibillion naira assets •N50bn cash, 18 firms, 15 houses, 17 bank accounts


EMPOWERED accordingly by a federal high court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized over N50 billion, 18 companies and 15 houses from the sacked Group Managing Director of Bank PHB, Mr. Francis Atuche.
Atuche was sacked along with heads of other nine banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the wake of the discovery of alleged fraud in the banking sector running into one trillion naira.

Seventeen bank accounts belonging to him were also frozen.

In one of the accounts domiciled with the bank, N25.95 billion cash was said to have been found.

The commission will also this morning commence the sealing off of all the houses traced to him.

Commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed the commencement of the exercise.

The commission had attached all the property traced to Atuche, who is standing trial for his alleged role in crippling the bank, to the Notice of Attachment placed before the trial judge, Justice A.O Ajakaye, who issued the order of temporary forfeiture on March 1, 2010.

Apart from the cash found in his bank account, Atuche also reportedly invested N1.5 billion in Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, N305,889,418 million in Arik Ltd and 500 million units of shares in Afribank Plc.

The houses traced to him are in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Surulere, VGC Lekki, Ibusa, Delta State, Asokoro, Abuja, with a sole property at 59, Avenue Close, Avenue Road, St. John’s Wood, London.

Some of the companies listed as alleged fronts in siphoning depositors’ funds included, Guesstrade Services; Sentron Trading; Montra and Investico; Claremount Asset Management Limited; Arabian Probity Management; Clareville Trading and Service Limited; Commerical Trading and Services Limited; Afco Associates Limited; Trenton Trade Limited and Consolidated Business Support Limited.

He was also said to have used 15 fronts, including his wife, children and relatives.

The names listed in the court order included Elizabeth Atuche; Grace Atuche; Victor Udeh; Michael Atuche; Anthony Grace; Joseph Atuche; Nkeolisakwu Atuche; Mrs. Mariam Okonmah; Patrick Atuche and Kemi Ojelabi.

Some of the frozen accounts are SA-400221000004, 2190001272, 1160000011, PNA 0010184100002 and CA 001040100000, all domiciled in Bank PHB as well as A/C Nos; 10100061705 and CA 001020102315 belonging to Elizabeth Atuche.
Some of the houses are 2b Falomo Close, Ikoyi; 21 Kingsway Road, Ikoyi (hotel known as Clonades), 41B Anifowoshe Street, V.I, 11 Raymond Njoku Street, Ikoyi, 2000M 2 Plots of land at Ibusa, Delta State, 46 Mamman Nasir Street, off T.Y Danjuma, Asokoro, Abuja, among others.

Reps halt construction of N65.5bn runway contract for Abuja airport


Abuja — The House of Representatives yesterday ordered the Federal Ministry of Aviation to suspend further works on the N63.5 billion second Abuja Airport runway project pending the completion of its investigation into matter.

The House also resolved to invite officials of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)to come and assess the contract and brief it on its propriety and cost effectiveness.

This followed the unanimous passage by the House of a motion for the probe of the 4 kilometre runway contract, which award to the German construction giant, Julius Berger was approved at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of December 16, 2009. The contract covers the design and construction of the runway and it was expected to be executed within 24 months.

Sponsored by Hon Dino Melaye (PDP, Kogi), the motion tiled "Construction of the Second Abuja Airport Runway at N63, 500,000,000", the motion urged the House to mandate its Committee on Aviation to carry out an investigative hearing on the contract and report to the House within three weeks.

Leading the debate on the motion, Melaye noted that N63.5 million is too outrageous to be expended on a runway when even the construction of complete airports both in the country and abroad in the past three years cost less than N50 billion.

He said facts available to him from the quotations from various companies wishing to undertake the project showed that these range between N24 billion and N26 billion and wondered why the Federal Ministry of Aviation had to give out the project for N63.5 billion to Julius Berger, a company globally known for construction of buildings and roads but with no reputation for building runways.

Melaye wondered what is so special about the project when the biggest aircraft in the world only needs a 3.6 kilometre runway.

Saying the contract cost was over bloated, Melaye added that the N64 billion was enough to build two new airports given the recent experience of some states of the federation which embarked on such projects.

He said Delta State awarded a contract for the building of a complete airport for less than N40 billion while the Akwa Ibom state government constructed its own airport equipped with modern navigational aids, four gates and so on for only N42 billion.

He also told the House that the Gombe International Airport was constructed for less than N50 billion, while the MM2 in Lagos only cost N30 billion.

"So, if we are constructing only a 4 kilometre runway for N64 billion, it is an outrageous wastage of the masses' money, as it means one kilometer will cost about N15 billion", he observed.

Melaye then urged the House to investigate the scam against the background that "some reputable companies that have expertise in constructing runways made quotations for as low as N24 billion but their proposals were rejected and the contract given to Julius Berger with no reputation for the construction of runways".

At this point, the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Hon Bethel Amadi presented the Committee's preliminary observation on the contract award to the House.

He said the need for the project arose due to the fact that the current runway at the airport is about 27 years old, observing however that the construction of a new eunway will not necessarily increase the capacity of the airport, as two aircraft cannot land there at the same time.

He also observed that the contract award did not fully comply with Section 22 (a & b) of the Public Procurement Act, as it was not published in the Procurement Journal.

Amadi further submitted that the contract cost of N63.5 billion "is far too high, too expensive and outrageous" and asked that further action on the contract be suspended pending the completion of his committee's investigation on it.