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Aviation ministry’s debt drops by N21bn

By on July 25, 2014

The total indebtedness of the Federal Ministry of Aviation has dropped from N174bn to N153bn, the ex-Supervising Minister of the ministry, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has revealed.

This is coming as the ministry disclosed that the Federal Government has given due process approval for the construction of a second runway for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Speaking at the official handing over ceremony for the new Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Childoka, the ministry’s ex-supervising helmsman stated that the organisation’s huge debt had been reduced by N21bn.

Orton said the committee that was set up to work on ways to cut down the debt was able to proffer measures that saw to the offsetting of N21bn.

He said, “The committee’s work is still going on up till today. They’ve not concluded their work but as at today, because of other modifications and payments that have been made, we have been able to bring it (N174bn) down to N153bn.”

In June, Ortom disclosed plans by the ministry to introduce airport development charges in all the nation’s airports in a bid to clear the  debt of over N174bn.

He revealed this when the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation visited the ministry.

The House, however, described the debt as alarming and stated that it would take more than 20 years to clear it.

Earlier in her address during the handing over ceremony, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Jemila Shua’ra, said the government, through the efforts of Ortom, had given approval for due process for the NAIA second runway.

She said, “He (Ortom) made sure the Abuja airport runway was rehabilitated as you are aware of the closure of the runway on two separate occasions recently. He was also able to get approval for us to commence the due process for the second Abuja airport runway.”

Chidoka, during his remarks, pledged to ensure safety of the nation’s airspace and security of airports across Nigeria.

He said, “Safety and security will be the two cardinal points for me as minister in this sector. I’m here to build on what exist, measure where they are, take a snapshot of where we are today and then see how we can move one step forward if not two. 

“I pledge and most importantly to deliver service to the Nigerian people, because sometimes the agencies and parastatals forget that they are there for Nigerians. In the next few weeks we are going to listen to a lot of people and if there is a master plan and other things, we are going to review them.”

 

 

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