In a determined stance, the House of Representatives has pledged to repossess two helicopters, specifically the Bell 206L4 BZB and Bell M2061-L4, which were originally part of the assets of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, but were sold to private individuals.
During an investigative hearing held in Abuja on Thursday, Rep. Ademorin Kuye, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets, made a firm declaration regarding the recovery of the helicopters.
Expressing concern about the sale of the helicopters to private entities, Kuye highlighted the absence of any helicopters left for the college’s training purposes.
The committee scrutinized the sales process of the helicopters as it came to light that various security agencies, including the Nigerian Air Force, Navy, and Police, had shown interest in acquiring them, only to be turned down by NCAT’s management.
Several statements revealed that the security agencies not only expressed their intent to purchase the helicopters in written communications but also physically visited the college but were prevented from making the purchase.
During his testimony, Acting Rector of NCAT, Shaka Imalighwe, who presumed his role after the helicopters were sold, stated that he was not involved in the sales arrangements.
Imalighwe clarified that he assumed the college’s management duties on an interim basis in January 2024.
Despite multiple requests from the committee for specific documentation related to the helicopter sales process that commenced in May 2023, NCAT has not furnished the required information.
The purported missing documents include approvals from the Federal Executive Council, FEC, and the Ministry of Aviation, as well as newspaper advertisements announcing the helicopters’ impending sale.
According to Imalighwe, the helicopters were operational and received maintenance from aviation regulatory bodies before their sale.
The current Rector admitted to the legislators that NCAT currently does not possess any helicopters for training purposes.
The lawmakers criticized NCAT for engaging an unregistered auctioneer in the sale of the helicopters.
As a result, the committee has summoned both the former and present Ministers of Aviation, alongside representatives from the Ministries of Works, Finance Incorporated (MOFI), and the past rectors of NCAT, among others, to appear in the upcoming hearings.