- Second Abuja Runway: Senate Demands Actual Cost From FAAN
The Senate on Tuesday directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to provide the actual amount that is needed for the construction of the proposed second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, before any approval will be given by the National Assembly.
According to the Senate, the Federal Government in its recent letter, seeking approval from the National Assembly for a $5.5bn foreign loan, has mentioned the Federal Ministry of Aviation as one of the ministries to benefit from the loan.
The Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt, which is the committee with the statutory mandate to scrutinise the $5.5bn loan request, told senior officials of the NAIA that the Senate gathered that the portion of the loan allocated to the aviation ministry was mainly for the construction of a second runway at the Abuja airport.
The Senate committee members, who visited the airport to inspect the proposed site for the runway, demanded what it would cost to construct the runway but no actual figure could be provided by FAAN officials. The authority gave the projected cost of the facility as N54bn, as of 2014.
The Chairman of the committee, Senator Shehu Sani, then directed the Airport Manager, NAIA, Mr. Mahmud Sani, and his team to provide the actual figure needed for the construction of the runway, otherwise the Senate would consider FAAN as an agency not ready for the loan.
