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Tag: Sirika

  • JUST IN: Court grants Sirika, daughter, son in-law N100m bail

    JUST IN: Court grants Sirika, daughter, son in-law N100m bail

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja has granted bail to the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika; his daughter, Fatima and son-in-law, Jalal Sule Hamma at N100million.

    Justice Sylva Oriji granted them bail after their arraignment, along with a firm, Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, on a six-count charge bordering on corrupt practices, to which they pleaded not guilty.

    Other conditions attached  to the bail include that the defendants produce two sureties, who must be Nigerians, one of whom must own a property within the Abuja Municipality, with a certificate of occupancy (C of O) signed personally by the Minister of the FCT.

    Justice Oriji also barred the defendants from traveling outside the country during the pendency of the case.

    The judge ordered that the defendanta should be remanded in prison custody should they fail to perfect the bail before the day runs out.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Former Minister Sirika arrives for arraignment

    Sirika, Fatima and Hamma are accused of the following:

    • Alleged consultancy contract fraud for Nigerian Air (N1,326,731,670.97)

    • Alleged corruption related to the contract for Apron Extension at Katsina Airport (N1,498,300,750.00 ); and

    • Alleged gratification (N1,310,142,051.16)

    According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the said fraudulent acts were committed by the suspects between April 2022 and March 2023.

    Details shortly…

  • EFCC to arraign Sirika, daughter, son in-law for N4.135b fraud

    EFCC to arraign Sirika, daughter, son in-law for N4.135b fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign former Aviation Minister Hadi Abubakar Sirika for alleged corrupt practices involving about N4. 135 billion.

    Sirika is to be arraigned along with his daughter, Fatima, his son-in-law Jalal Sule Hamma and a firm – Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, according to the EFCC charges, sighted by our correspondent.

    All the suspects are expected to be charged for the following:

    • Alleged consultancy contract fraud for Nigerian Air (N1,326,731,670.97)

    • Alleged corruption related to the contract for Apron Extension at Katsina Airport (N1,498,300,750.00 ); and

    • Alleged gratification (N1,310,142,051.16)

    According to the EFCC, the said fraudulent acts were committed by the suspects between April 2022 and March 2023

    The anti-graft commission said all the offences are contrary to Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, to Section 17 (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004  and Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532 Acts of the Federal Capital Territory and  punishable under the same sections.

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    The charges before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are as follows: “That you – Hadi Abubakar Sirika – while being the minister of Aviation between April 2022 and March 2023, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your position to confer unfair  advantage upon Tianaero Nigeria Limited, whose alter ego Prof. Gabriel Tilmann, is your Associate by using your position to influence the award to them, the consultancy contract for the Nigerian Air Start-up and extension of same for the sum of N1,326,731,670.97 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same section

    “That you – Hadi Abubakar Sirika while being the Minister of Aviation on or about 16th August 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon Al Buraq Global Investment Limited  whose alter ego Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Sule Hamma are your daughter and son-in-law respectively by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport, for the sum of N1,498,300,750.00  and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section.

    “That you  Hadi Abubakar Sirika, while being the Minister of Aviation and in such capacity as a public officer on or about 18th August, 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court entrusted with certain property to wit the sum of N1,498,300,750.00 committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property by being dishonestly connected with the illegal award of contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport, to and for the benefit of  Al Buraq Global Investment Limited  whose alter ego  are Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Sule Hamma, your daughter and son-in-law respectively and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532 Acts of the Federal Capital Territory and punishable under the same section.

    “That you – Hadi Abubakar Sirika – while being the Minister of Aviation, Fatima Hadi Sirika while being a public servant and an employee of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd and Jalal Sule Hamma  while being a public servant and an employee of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission on or about 18th August 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly hold indirectly private interests in the contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,498,300,750 00 awarded to Al Buraq Global Investment Limited  whose alter ego  are Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Sule Hamma which contract was awarded on account of public service and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section.”  

    “That – you Fatima Hadi Sirika, Jalal Sule Hamma and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited – between 2022 and 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had possession of an aggregate sum of N1,310,142,051.16  which sum you knew indirectly represented the proceeds of criminal conducts of Hadi Abubakar Sirika who was the minister of Aviation at the time (to wit use of office or position for gratification in respect of the said amount), and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17 (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under the same section.

    “That you – Hadi Abubakar Sirika – while being the minister of Aviation and in such capacity as a public officer between April 2022 and March 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court entrusted with certain property to wit, the sum of N1,326,731,470.97 committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property by being dishonestly connected with the illegal award of the Consultancy contract for the Nigerian Air Start-up and extension of same to and for the benefit of Tianaero Nigeria Limited whose alter ego Prof. Gabriel Tilmann, your Associate and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act. Cap 532 Acts of the Federal Capital Territory and punishable under the same section.”

  • BREAKING: EFCC arraigns Sirika, daughter over N2.7bn fraud Thursday

    BREAKING: EFCC arraigns Sirika, daughter over N2.7bn fraud Thursday

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on Thursday, May 9, arraign the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, his daughter, Fatimah, and two other suspects in court.

    The suspects are facing charges over alleged N2.7 billion contract fraud uncovered in the Aviation Ministry under Sirika.

    Read Also: Court orders EFCC to release girl held for mother’s debt

    Sirika is billed to appear in court with his three co-defendants, his daughter, Fatima; one Jalal Hamma, and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, on charges of abusing their positions to launder over N2.7 billion.

    The embattled former minister would be arraigned for trial for the first time, before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.

    Details shortly…

  • EFCC arrests Sirika, slams Emefiele with fresh charges

    EFCC arrests Sirika, slams Emefiele with fresh charges

    • Anti-graft agency boss speaks on Yahaya Bello, Betta Edu, others

    Immediate-past Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika has been arrested.

    He is due to face charges alongside his brother, Abubakar, following an investigation into alleged N8.06 billion fraud during his tenure.

    Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede announced this yesterday.

    He also insisted that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello was not above the law and would be prosecuted over allegations of financial misconduct.

    Also yesterday, the EFCC slammed a new four-count charge on former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele.

    The fresh charges border on his approval of printing of N684,590,000 at the rate of N18.96 billion.

    He is due to be charged before an FCT High Court on Tuesday.

    Emefiele is simultaneously standing trial before two other judges on different charges in Abuja and Lagos.

    Olukoyede during an interaction with reporters in Abuja yesterday also spoke on the investigation into allegations against suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Dr. Betta Edu.

    According to Olukoyede, some top officials of the Ministry of Aviation are also under investigation in connection with alleged fraud.

    The agency is probing allegations of conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, contract inflation, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in the ministry.

    About N8,069,176,864.00 worth of contracts were allegedly found to have been either inflated or unexecuted.

    One of these is the alleged non-execution of the construction of N1, 345,586,500 Terminal Building in Katsina  Airport.

    Sirika, a former senator, hails from the state.

    It was learnt that about N3,212,258,930.18 has been traced to Engirios Nigerian Limited, owned by Abubakar Sirika, a level-16 officer in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

    According to a top source in the EFCC, Sirika was arrested and taken to the Abuja Command of the commission for interrogation.

    The source said: “In the last seven hours, the ex-Minister has been undergoing questioning on what he knew about the contracts worth N8,069,176,864.00.

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    “His brother has made some statements on oath and we need to clarify from the ex-minister.

    “We have also retrieved all necessary documents which the former minister would have to respond to on the affected contracts and the procurement process.

    “If things go as planned, this commission will arraign them next week.”

    Olukoyede said: “Yes, we are investigating the ex-Mminister. When the time comes, we will brief you on our findings.

    “About the specific question on Hadi Sirika, yes, we are investigating the Ministry of Aviation, not only Hadi Sirika.

    “We are investigating many of these heads of agencies who worked in that ministry, particularly in the last few years.

    “The investigation is ongoing and when we are through we will let you see the report. It is not just about Hadi Sirika. I told you that there is nothing personal.

    “It is not about Hadi Sirika; it is about the system, processes, and national interest.

    “So don’t let us single out somebody as if EFCC is running after Hadi Sirika, no. It is a system. If you had asked me whether we are investigating issues concerning the Ministry of Aviation, I would tell you straight away that yes, we are investigating it.

    “When the time comes for us to release the report you will see the details of our report, but now it is premature for me to tell you what we have discovered.

    “We are making progress in that regard and we are not going to stop.

    “Whatever we discovered at the end of the day we are ready to go to court and you can go to town with the material.”

    But a document sighted by our correspondent confirmed that investigation showed that four big contracts were awarded to a company, Engirios Nigerian Limited, allegedly traced to the ex-Minister’s brother.

    The contracts were awarded to the younger brother’s firm when Sirika was in charge of the ministry.

    According to the EFCC, the investigation confirmed that Abubakar is listed as the company’s MD/CEO.

    He is also said to be the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts.

    The four contracts awarded to the company of the brother are as follows:

    • Construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina  Airport (N1,345,586,500.00);

    • Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre in Katsina Airport (N3, 811,497,685.00);

    • Procurement and installation of elevators, air conditioners and power generator house in Aviation House, Abuja (N615,195,275.000);

    • Procurement of Magnus Aircraft and simulator for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria (N2, 296,897, 404.00).   

    A top source said: “Investigators further discovered that upon the receipt of the payment, Abubakar allegedly transferred it to different companies and individuals. There is no trace of work done on any of the contract items to date.

    “These developments led to the arrest and questioning of Abubakar by the EFCC.”

    It was learnt that the contracts and the timelines were between August 2022 and May 2023.

    Some details, obtained by The Nation from some sources and a document, read in part: “It is suspected that the ex-Minister, Hadi Sirika, awarded the contracts to his brother Abubakar, knowing that the latter is a civil servant and a deputy director on Level 16 in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, where he has been working since 2000 till date.

    “The first of the controversial contracts awarded to Engirios Nigeria Limited was on August 18, 2022, for the construction of a terminal building in Katsina Airport, at the cost of N1,345,586,500.00.

    “The second was awarded on November 3, 2022, for the establishment of a Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre in Katsina Airport at N3, 811,497,685.

    “The third contract was on February 3, 2023, for the procurement and installation of elevators, air conditioners and power generator’s house in Aviation House, Abuja, at the cost of N615,195,275.000.

    “The fourth was awarded on May 5, 2023, for the procurement of Magnus Aircraft and simulator for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria at the cost of N2, 296,897, 404.00.”

    There were indications that the EFCC was looking into what was termed alleged “Nigeria Air fraud.”

    There was controversy about how much was released for Nigeria Air.

    While some critics alleged that N85 billion was expended on Nigeria Air, Sirika claimed that N5 billion was approved but N3 billion was released.

    He said his administration did not spend the N3 billion before he left office.

    Sirika said: “In 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, all of the monies voted and budgeted for the national carrier was N5billion.

    “But all that was released is in the neighbourhood of about N3billion, not N85billion and all of the N3billion had not been expended as of the time I left office.

    “What was done with the money was nothing but transaction advisory services, the AOC process, salaries, consultancy services and the offices in Abuja.

    “No contract was given by Hadi Sirika or the administration at the time.

    “These are the things that the money was used for.”

  • The Sirika brothers

    The Sirika brothers

    • Good that EFCC has seized N3bn paid allegedly for unexecuted contracts, but we still must ensure such abuse do not recur

    Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, represented a lot of hope for the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, as he was trusted to reincarnate the glory of the former Nigeria Airways. At the height of that glory, Nigeria Airways had a fleet of over 30 planes, and was reputed as the biggest airline in Africa. All that glory was lost on the altar of corruption and personal aggrandisement.

    Hadi Sirika was appointed minister with a clear mandate to establish a Nigerian carrier, and until the twilight of the administration, he gave a false hope that the nation was on the path to that glory. But it appears that instead of delivering on his mandate, he carried the ingredients for the pot of soup to his family house, and shared the largesse.

    According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Sirika awarded several unexecuted contracts worth about N8.06 billion to Engirios Nigeria Limited, a company owned by his brother, Abubakar Ahmad Sirika.

    Abubakar Sirika, a civil servant, is the managing director and chief executive of the company and N3 billion traced to the account of the company has been frozen by the commission. Four contracts awarded to the company by the ministry are the construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport at N1,345,586,500.00; Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre in Katsina Airport at N3, 811,497,685.00; procurement and installation of elevators, air conditioners and power generator house in Aviation House, Abuja, at N615,195,275.00; and procurement of Magnus Aircraft and simulator for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, at N2, 296,897, 404.00.

    These contracts were awarded in the last days of the Buhari administration, allegedly without recourse to due process. While we condemn the former minister for awarding contracts at the twilight of the administration, we are shocked that a civil servant would disregard the laws and engage in management of a company bidding for contract from the Federal Government that employed him. It is possible that there are similar abuses in other ministries and parastatals of government, despite the clear prohibition of such practices.

    A top official of the agency reportedly said: “While profiling the contracts, there was a payment of N3,212,258,930.18 out of the total contract sum to Engirios Nigeria Limited, which is owned by the younger brother of the ex-Minister of Aviation.” He went on: “Apart from being listed as the company’s MD/CEO, Abubakar is the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts.” We wonder why there are no checks to avoid such abuses, as allegedly happened in the ministry of aviation.

    Read Also: EFCC freezes N3b traced to Sirika’s brother’s account

    How come a minister could award contracts without due process, and go ahead to authorise the release of the contract sums? Where were the permanent secretary and directors, whose responsibilities it was to insist on due process in the award and payment for contracts? Where is the place of the public procurement laws in the award? Was a no objection certificate obtained before the monies were released to the contractor?

    We urge the EFCC to ask all relevant questions, and get everyone who aided the wrong process, or who failed to raise alarms before endorsing documents to answer for their commission or omission.

    While the work of fighting corruption must go on, the duty of preventing corruption should be entrenched. The sort of abuse allegedly perpetrated by the ministry under Hadi Sirika should not happen again. The system must be strengthened to ensure that gate keepers live up to their responsibility, regardless of whose ox is gored. A minister must never be able to ride roughshod over rules and regulations, even with the best intension. We do not need strong men, but rather strong system. It is sad that the plans to reinvent Nigeria Airways faltered completely.

  • National Carrier: Sirika meets aircraft manufacturers investors in UK

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has disclosed that the Federal Government had started negotiations with aircraft manufacturers and investors towards the unveiling of the national carrier at the ongoing Farnborough International Air Show in the United Kingdom.

    Sirika disclosed this in a statement by Mr James Odaudu, Deputy Director, Media and Public Affairs from Farnborough on Monday.

    He said that the Nigerian delegation which he led, had met with the Management of Airplane manufacturers Airbus to negotiate the acquisition of the desired aircraft for the nation.

    Sirika also disclosed that negotiations with Boeing and other Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) would take place on Tuesday.

    According to the Minister, the ongoing International Air Show is an opportunity to negotiate with airline manufacturers with the view of getting the most competitive and best value-for-money deals for the country.

    He said he would also explore every opportunity available at the air show, an event that brings the biggest and the best in the industry, to attract more prospective investors into the Nigerian aviation environment.

    Sirika explained that the show would provide an opportunity to establish a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Nigeria, concession of some airports in the country and other components of the Aviation Roadmap the federal government.

    The minister had earlier written on his twitter handle: “Negotiating Aircraft orders with Airbus at Farnborough ahead of National Carrier unveiling on Wednesday.

    “Negotiations with Boeing and other OEMs tomorrow.

    “Met with Standard Chartered Bank earlier. All is looking good!”

    The minister had on July 6, announced that the name and logo of the airline would be unveiled during the air show in the UK and assured that the airline would commence operations in December. (NAN)

  • Stakeholders to Sirika: inaugurate agencies’ boards 

    Some stakeholders have called on Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to inaugurate boards of agencies.

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), among others, have been running without boards in the past five months.

    Muhammadu Buhari directed that the boards be inaugurated when he constituted them last December 29.

    Following the directive, the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, directed ministers and their deputies to inaugurate boards.

    Investigations revealed that the agencies are being run by their maangement.

    According to observers, this might have given the minister unlimited power in the agencies.

    In an interview, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) National President, Comrade Ahmadu Illitrus, said it was not the first time such thing is happening.

    He painted a similar scenario during the tenure of Stella Oduah.

    According to Ahmadu, though the delay in the inauguration was abnormal, he attributed it to  ‘an error in the appointment of politicians with little or no knowledge on the technicalities’ of the sector.

    His words: “May be the minister saw the appointment as an error and waiting for the Presidency to correct it.

    “Most of the board composition are made up of politicians who do not have the technical knowledge about aviation.”

    But, an ATSSSAN National Officer, Comrade Sarah Rindams, disagreed with Ahmadu.

    She described the failure to inaugurate the boards by Sirika as  abnormal.

    Rindams said the minister’s refusal to inaugurate boards would only encourage unauthorised activities,  and absence of checks and balance  at the agencies.

    She said such negative development at a time Nigeria is preparing for election could have negative impact on the agencies.

    Rindams said the right thing to do was for Sirika to inaugurate the boards.

    An industry player, who pleaded not to be named, said Sirika might be capitalising on the delay in inaugurating boards for the agencies for a  motive based on the so called error in the appointment of non-industry professionals on the list.

    According to the key player, the failure to inaugurate the boards may have a negative effect on the agencies since the financial spending by their heads are limited by law as they can only go through the board for approval.

  • Stakeholders to Sirika: inaugurate agencies’ boards 

    Some stakeholders have called on Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to inaugurate boards of agencies.

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), among others, have been running without boards in the past five months.

    Muhammadu Buhari directed that the boards be inaugurated when he constituted them last December 29.

    Following the directive, the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, directed ministers and their deputies to inaugurate boards.

    Investigations revealed that the agencies are being run by their maangement.

    According to observers, this might have given the minister unlimited power in the agencies.

    In an interview, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) National President, Comrade Ahmadu Illitrus, said it was not the first time such thing is happening.

    He painted a similar scenario during the tenure of Stella Oduah.

    According to Ahmadu, though the delay in the inauguration was abnormal, he attributed it to  ‘an error in the appointment of politicians with little or no knowledge on the technicalities’ of the sector.

    His words: “May be the minister saw the appointment as an error and waiting for the Presidency to correct it.

    “Most of the board composition are made up of politicians who do not have the technical knowledge about aviation.”

    But,  an ATSSSAN National Officer, Comrade Sarah Rindams, disagreed with Ahmadu.

    She described the failure to inaugurate the boards by Sirika as  abnormal.

    Rindams said the minister’s refusal to inaugurate boards would only encourage unauthorised activities,  and absence of checks and balance  at the agencies.

    She said such negative development at a time Nigeria is preparing for election could have negative impact on the agencies.

    Rindams said the right thing to do was for Sirika to inaugurate the boards.

    An industry player, who pleaded not to be named, said Sirika might be capitalising on the delay in inaugurating boards for the agencies for a  motive based on the so called error in the appointment of non-industry professionals on the list.

    According to the key player, the failure to inaugurate the boards may have a negative effect on the agencies since the financial spending by their heads are limited by law as they can only go through the board for approval.

  • FAAN pensioners to Sirika: fulfill your promises

    THE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) branch of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners  (NUP)  has urged Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to fulfil the promises he made over two years ago to turn around the sector.

    The pensioners noted that Sirika, a pilot, was yet to fulfil his promise to effectively concession airports and facilitate the payment of severance benefits to former workers of the Nigeria Airways Limited.

    FAAN NUP Chairman Comrade Rasaki Ope and the Secretary, Comrade Emeka Njoku, asked Sirika  for his achievements since he assumed office.

    The group alleged that rather than take steps to impact positively on the industry’s development, Sirika “influenced the recruitment of his cronies as general managers and directors into aviation agencies.

    “The flooding of his cronies into aviation agencies,’’ they alleged, ‘’is a stumbling block to the promotion of deserving career officers to their next level.’’

    The pensioners said they were more disappointed in Sirika, whom they reasoned, understood the challenges of the sector and should have taken urgent steps to fix the critical problems.

    Passing a no-confidence vote on him, the pensioners said Sirika failed to deliver the national carrier which timeline he had set for March.

    They said: ‘’It may not be out of place to say that Sirika has performed lowest as minister appointed to oversee aviation.

    “He promised last year that a national carrier will start operations by March 2018, and this is May 2018, and there is nothing on ground suggesting the project is realisable.”

    ‘’They also took a swipe at Sirika’s failure to ensure the outstanding payment of retirees of defunct Nigeria Airways approved last year are paid before the last Easter.

    “Easter had come and gone and nothing had happened. Sirika raised the hope that aviation security officers of FAAN would be carrying arms to enhance their job at the airports. Till now, there is no plan or training for the security personnel to achieve this.

    “What about the perimeter fence construction or reconstruction at major airports, which the minister has been singing about in the past two years? Nothing has happened.”

    They said with these unfulfilled promises, it would be difficult to take seriously the minister’s continued propagation of concession of four major airports, when 80 per cent of their revenue points have been given to private firms to handle.

    The pensioners asked: ”Does this minister have a hidden agenda not known to President Muhammadu Buhari and other members of the Federal Executive Council?

    They continued: “When he was appointed and was busy making mouth-watering promises, we thought he will perform, but today we are disappointed that he has exhibited emptiness despite that he is a pilot.

    “When this minister came in, he met an Aviation Road Map with clear-cut futuristic plan for the industry, but no sooner than Sirika came, he systematically jettisoned  the road map for his self-centered agenda.”

    The union leaders noted that as a member of the technical aspect of the industry and as a pilot, they thought he would have created an enabling environment to create employment opportunities for unemployed pilots, adding: “To us he is a failure in all ramifications“.

    But an official of the Ministry of Aviation, who pleaded not to be named, said Sirika would not be distracted by the comments.

    He said the minister remained committed to his vision to drive the  sector’s development by strengthening the procedures and processes for the implementation of government policies and programmes.

  • Senate summons Sirika, others over air mishaps

    Senate summons Sirika, others over air mishaps

    The Senate yesterday resolved to invite Minister of State for Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika to brief it on steps taken by his ministry to minimise air mishaps.

    Apart from Sirika, who is mandated to appear before the Senate in plenary, the upper chamber also invited heads of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and every other relevant agency in the aviation industry to give a full briefing on the steps that have been taken to minimise human errors and avoid preventable air crashes.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on: “The need to minimise the possibility of air mishaps and near fatalities in Nigeria,” sponsored by Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East) and eight others.

    All senators who contributed to the motion agreed that urgent steps should be taken to fix the aviation section in the interest of the flying public.