The Federal Government of Nigeria, on Wednesday, in Abuja, said the agitations of the Senate cannot halt the planned demolition of offices belonging to aviation agencies at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made the FG’s stance known after this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the State House, Abuja.
Sirika said “Government is going to continue. The Senate is advisory. It’s an executive function, we are not bound by any court of law and the government cannot be stopped from giving development to its people.
“So, few individuals will not deny 250 million Nigerians the joy of having something that they will go outside Nigeria to see.”
His remarks came barely 24 hours after a motion by the upper legislative Chamber directed the FG to halt the demolition works to allow the Senate Committee on Aviation, chaired by Senator Biodun Olujimi, to intervene.
The PUNCH reports that the Senate on Tuesday directed the Minister of Aviation to stop the planned demolition of aviation agencies’ offices in Lagos pending the outcome of intervention being made by its Committee on Aviation.
The Senate’s resolution followed a motion by the Chairman of the Aviation Committee, Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP Ekiti South), on the urgent need for Senate intervention on the intending warning strike by aviation unions.
In the motion, Olujimi reminded the red chamber of the looming warning strike by the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, National Association of Aircrafts Pilots and Engineers etc.
But reacting to a question on the matter, Sirika argued that the Senate’s resolution is only advisory and cannot stop the planned demolition.
“The intent of government is to remove the structure housing the office of the Managing Director of FAAN and those commercial buildings. It’s a structure that is made of wood, and has been there for 40 years. It has caught fire twice even during our administration.
“To give way for better development for what Lagos has become, it is the gateway, we want to put hotels there, shopping malls, offices, cinemas and the rest of it so FAAN can make more money. And the entire people in that building are between 150 to 200.
“Government is going to continue, of course. The Senate is advisory. It’s an executive function. We are not bound by any court of law and the government cannot be stopped from giving development to its people.”
He cited the recent demolition of 13 houses in Lagos by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, saying the efforts were part of national interest.
“Just the other day, some houses were demolished by the Lagos government on our camp. We have been on that issue for some time. We went up to Supreme Court and won and they had to give way for development. This is in the national interest.
“So, I think it is not an issue. They (senators) are just overheating it and you know why. But we have a responsibility and mandate that we are not shy about. We are very bold to do all those things that are good for our people.
“So, few individuals will not deny 250 million Nigerians from the joy of having something that they will go outside Nigeria to see. Common people will go and see outside the country and say ‘these leaders don’t they travel? See Dubai?’ But now we want to give (Nigerians) something like Dubai and somebody is saying no? Common!” Sirika said.
Air Nigeria will fly before May 29
Meanwhile, the minister tried to clear doubts about Nigeria’s national carrier, Nigeria Air Limited, beginning operation within the remaining days of the Buhari regime.
“I think three weeks is a lot of time. By the special grace of God, it will fly and don’t forget we didn’t start today. We started this in 2015. We drew up the road-map, we got the transaction advisors in 2016. From 2016 we’ve been planning and planning and planning.
“Many airlines came, more than 50 per cent of the airline today in Nigeria were licensed by the Buhari administration. Even Air Peace, which is the biggest airline, when we came in 2015, how many aircrafts did they have? The growth and robustness of Air Peace is because we gave them the enabling environment to do it.
Sirika also argued that plans were on the ground to sustain the national carrier plan beyond the regime.
“We are committed, and luckily, it is APC that will be in power again. We are committed to this project. This project is good for the Nigerian economy, for the traveling people,” he said.
