The Chairman of the Joint Committee on Aviation, Senator Buhari Abdulfatah, has called on stakeholders in the aviation industry to collaborate in alignment with the nation’s goals and priorities for the sector.

He made this appeal during the budget defense session of the Ministry of Aviation in Abuja.

Senator Buhari also advised the Minister of Aviation to caution agencies under the ministry to honor invitations from the National Assembly committees for clarifications on contentious budgetary issues.

The Minister, Mr Festus Kiyamo expressed gratitude for the warm welcome, the committee accorded to them and the cordiality over the Time.

Giving the performance of the 2024 budget of over 38.3 billion naira, kiyamo said the Cash releases was 11.5 billion out of that the utilization is about 98 percent which is about 11billion naira.

He explained that the ministry has no internally generated revenue but the agencies under it have to answer the question raised by a member whether the ministry has no IGR.

Some members expressed appreciation with the level of achievement so far at the airports in the country but urged to do more.

However, Senator Sahabi Ya’u commenting on a fundamental issue of liabilities of defunct Nigerian airways raised by senator Jiya from Niger, emphasized the need for the ministry to step in on the matter.

Senator Sahabi believed that intervention of the ministry on this issue was very vital for socio economic well-being of the concerned Nigerians who spent time waiting for a succour from the Government

Similarly, Senator Ireti Kingibe also raised concern on why the creation of new aviation school in Abuja while the existing one in Zaria is not adequately funded to function effectively?

Responding on these concern, the Minister said 36 billion liability of defunct Nigerian Airways was domicile with the ministry of finance to take charge of the payment and promised to ensure this is done according to the directives given on the issue by Mr president.

On the issue of school of aviation, Festus Kiyamo explained.that the one in Abuja is a specialized one and was started by the previous administration.

He further explained that the school of aviation Zaria although has been doing tremendously well but now is having a problems of space to the extent we bought Zaria hotel for extension that means the ministry or government cannot continue to buy houses in zaria for expansion.

On the issue of second runway at the Abuja airport, the Minister confirmed that he cancelled the contract because the contractor handling the project demanded a variation from 90 billion to over 500 billion naira which rationally is not possible and even Mr president do not like the issue.

Finally he presented the sum of 71.123billion naira budget for the 2025.

COV/Bashir M

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