The Senate ad hoc Committee on Aviation which is chaired by Rabiu Kwankwaso (APC-Kano State) Tuesday, held a public hearing on Tuesday.

Heads of parastatals and other officials of the Ministry of Aviation led by the Permanent Secretary, Binta Bello, attended the hearing at the National Assembly.

Ms. Bello lamented the challenge of funding which she said was affecting the Nigerian aviation sector, particularly infrastructure at various airports.

Ms. Bello said, “We have financial constraints. Budgetary provision can never finance the projects that were opening up in all the airports in Nigeria.”

She hailed the remodeling of the airports under former Minister of Aviation, now Senator, Stella Oduah.
Ms. Bello, however, said the projects were stalled as funding for the projects stopped immediately Ms. Oduah was removed.

“She (Oduah) started a very good job. Every airport was opened up. Well she’s sitting here. She may tell us where she got the funds. But records showed she got the money from intervention funds.

“Since she left, these intervention funds stopped. We depend on budget. On capital project, we got very little amount of money which can in no way take care of over 150 projects in our airports.”

Credit: PremiumTimes