Also published in Daily Trust
Of course, that staggering amount of money was much more than the actual price of the two cars. In reality, the deal was simply designed to steal public funds in collaboration with the supplier, who would officially receive the funds, deduct his portion of the loot and transfer the balance to the accounts of the main beneficiaries.
Certainly, this scam is quite scandalous even in Nigerian standard, which is unfortunately unmatched in view of the sheer crudity that characterizes the ways public treasuries are primitively looted, and indeed the shameful culture of impunity in which the perpetrators escape justice.
Incidentally, this scandal represents what actually happens in all sectors and at all levels of government in Nigeria. Ms Oduah might have been a victim of some equally corrupt elements, who might have deliberately exposed her in order to achieve some self-serving goals.
Anyway, though Ms Oduah flaunts the “huge” facelift projects she has accomplished in various airports in the country including MAKIA, it is obvious that, such projects did not actually upgrade the airports in reality. When I arrived in Nigeria earlier this year via MAKIA I felt very disappointed with the level, quality and sophistication of the works done in the airport.
Interestingly enough, to be fair to Ms Oduah, I must add that, the systematic neglect suffered by MAKIA did not start with her; it instead began under Olusegun Obasanjo-led civilian administration in 1999, under whose rule some reputable international airlines began to abandon MAKIA under some mysterious circumstances.
Moreover, Nigerian aviation sector, just like all others public sectors in the country has for long been characterized by mediocrity in service delivery. Nonetheless, compared with what was obtained before, it has witnessed some relatively appreciable improvement over the past few years anyway, which has, to some extent, improved the quality of aviation services in the country.
Yet, going by the roles played Ms Oduah to divert, discourage and prevent some international airlines willing to return to or extend their operations to MAKIA; it is obvious that she is out to finish it off. After all, over the past several months there have been credible reports on how she effectively blocked the Dubai based Emirates Airline, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and perhaps a few more others, from extending their operations to the airport.
She has reportedly insisted and still insists that if they must extend their services to other airports in the country, then they must consider Enugu and Port Harcourt Airports instead. Consequently Ethiopian Airlines, which used to operate in MAKIA before it mysteriously withdrew, apparently bowed to her pressure and introduced the first regular international flights from and into Enugu Airport.
Furthermore, even with the recent confirmation by the Turkish Airlines that it will introduce regular international flights from and to Kano in December, one can’t take it for granted until it actually comes to pass, because Ms Oduah could still undermine it anyway.
Though Ms Oduah has always, either personally or through her subordinates denied being biased against MAKIA, the reality is that she has failed to rise above her tribal and regional prejudice in her obviously unjustified partiality against MAKIA.
However, in view of the mounting public pressure on the President to sack her, and despite her reportedly desperate efforts to keep her job, her eventual sack seems increasingly imminent, though obviously not for being corrupt per se but largely in order to save face.
In any case, whether or not Ms Oduah is sacked, and even though MAKIA is a federal establishment, Kano state government should nonetheless devise means that would enable it keep a close watch on the politics surrounding the process of applying for and granting of landing permits for international airlines willing to do business in Nigeria, so as to save MAKIA from imminent collapse, which will definitely worsen the already dwindling economic fortunes of the state, the north and the country in general.
As the oldest airport in Nigeria, MAKIA began
operations in 1936
In its Monday, 21 October 2013
issue, Daily Trust reported what could be regarded as yet another instance of
the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah’s apparent resolve to finish off the
already struggling Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, by blocking some international
airlines from extending their operations to the airport, which, by the way, is
the oldest airport in Nigeria.
This came amid public anger
against the controversial Minister for embezzling more than a quarter billion
naira to purchase two BMW armoured cars for her use. It also came
against the background of public lamentation over the underfunded hence
inefficient air safety measures and equipment used by the Federal Airports
Authority of Nigerian, FAAN and the airline companies, which reportedly cut corners in
order to save the cost of providing proper maintenance to their fleets thereby
putting the lives of their passengers and that of others at risk.
Of course, that staggering amount of money was much more than the actual price of the two cars. In reality, the deal was simply designed to steal public funds in collaboration with the supplier, who would officially receive the funds, deduct his portion of the loot and transfer the balance to the accounts of the main beneficiaries.
Certainly, this scam is quite scandalous even in Nigerian standard, which is unfortunately unmatched in view of the sheer crudity that characterizes the ways public treasuries are primitively looted, and indeed the shameful culture of impunity in which the perpetrators escape justice.
Incidentally, this scandal represents what actually happens in all sectors and at all levels of government in Nigeria. Ms Oduah might have been a victim of some equally corrupt elements, who might have deliberately exposed her in order to achieve some self-serving goals.
Anyway, though Ms Oduah flaunts the “huge” facelift projects she has accomplished in various airports in the country including MAKIA, it is obvious that, such projects did not actually upgrade the airports in reality. When I arrived in Nigeria earlier this year via MAKIA I felt very disappointed with the level, quality and sophistication of the works done in the airport.
By the way, every time I fly into
or out of Nigeria through MAKIA I feel very sad, for it looks too desolate and
too sleepy to be called an airport, let alone an international airport. With
barely three international airlines operating in it, it simply looks like a
glorified airstrip in reality.
Interestingly enough, to be fair to Ms Oduah, I must add that, the systematic neglect suffered by MAKIA did not start with her; it instead began under Olusegun Obasanjo-led civilian administration in 1999, under whose rule some reputable international airlines began to abandon MAKIA under some mysterious circumstances.
Moreover, Nigerian aviation sector, just like all others public sectors in the country has for long been characterized by mediocrity in service delivery. Nonetheless, compared with what was obtained before, it has witnessed some relatively appreciable improvement over the past few years anyway, which has, to some extent, improved the quality of aviation services in the country.
Yet, going by the roles played Ms Oduah to divert, discourage and prevent some international airlines willing to return to or extend their operations to MAKIA; it is obvious that she is out to finish it off. After all, over the past several months there have been credible reports on how she effectively blocked the Dubai based Emirates Airline, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and perhaps a few more others, from extending their operations to the airport.
She has reportedly insisted and still insists that if they must extend their services to other airports in the country, then they must consider Enugu and Port Harcourt Airports instead. Consequently Ethiopian Airlines, which used to operate in MAKIA before it mysteriously withdrew, apparently bowed to her pressure and introduced the first regular international flights from and into Enugu Airport.
Furthermore, even with the recent confirmation by the Turkish Airlines that it will introduce regular international flights from and to Kano in December, one can’t take it for granted until it actually comes to pass, because Ms Oduah could still undermine it anyway.
Though Ms Oduah has always, either personally or through her subordinates denied being biased against MAKIA, the reality is that she has failed to rise above her tribal and regional prejudice in her obviously unjustified partiality against MAKIA.
However, in view of the mounting public pressure on the President to sack her, and despite her reportedly desperate efforts to keep her job, her eventual sack seems increasingly imminent, though obviously not for being corrupt per se but largely in order to save face.
After all, chief executives and
other top officials at all levels of governments in Nigeria do, from time to
time, sacrifice some of their allies and loyal subordinates by probing them and
subjecting them to legal prosecution and even imprisonment, so as to make a
good impression on the public about their purported intolerance of corruption.
In any case, whether or not Ms Oduah is sacked, and even though MAKIA is a federal establishment, Kano state government should nonetheless devise means that would enable it keep a close watch on the politics surrounding the process of applying for and granting of landing permits for international airlines willing to do business in Nigeria, so as to save MAKIA from imminent collapse, which will definitely worsen the already dwindling economic fortunes of the state, the north and the country in general.
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