The Senate on Wednesday kicked against the N64 billion contract for the construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The Senate, at its plenary declared that the contract sum ​wa​s “too high”. In a three-point motion by Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West), the Senate acknowledged the urgent need for a second runway at the airport, but ​ruled ​that the contract sum was “too exorbitant’’.

The Senate urged the Federal Government to ensure that due process and diligence ​i​s followed in the design, award and procurement of the contract, while the cost should be “drastically reduced’’. “The Federal Government should reduce this unrealistic cost and duly monitor the award process,’’ Mr. Melaye said. He said the proposed cost of the runway far exceeded the cost of constructing some airports around the country and even abroad. He noted that the terminal 5 in Heathrow Airport, with four lanes of 4km runway, cost less than N25 billion, while the entire Gombe Airport, with 3.66km runways, cost N8.2 billion.

He said that the Jigawa Airport cost N11 billion, Bauchi Airport, N12 billion, Enugu Airport, N13 billion, while the Akwa Ibom Airport cost about N18 billion. He, therefore, wondered why the proposed construction of a mere runway at Abuja Airport would cost N64 billion. Mr. Melaye recalled that the contract had been cancelled earlier by the Jonathan administration over its high cost, and urged President Muhammudu Buhari to similarly reject it.The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, in his remarks, acknowledged that the second runway was necessary, but added that it could only be executed “at a reasonable price’’. “It is important, but we cannot continue with such reckless expenditure.

“We have to let all the MDAs know that those days of recklessness are over and these kinds of figures will not be accepted. “`In fact, it is not just in aviation, but in all other sectors of the economy,” he declared.
(NAN)

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/192256-​​​​​nigerian-senate-rejects-n64-bn-​for-​-abuja-airport-second-runway.html

Buhari is going to sack the person that sent that request to the Senate

Cant N64b start up a Nigeria fully owned Airline

billion this, billion that. ask for money to develop things that will benefit the common man.

Thank God

Low oil money is good for Nigeria.
It stops massive corruption

this second Abuja runway issue has been on since the govt of yaradua,i recall that dino melaye raised this same issue,when he was a member of house of reps.Our senators may be playing to the gallery,because that project must be in the 2015 budget that they passed.

So this is now online.

Why are media houses waiting for me to raise a topic before the can write something about it and then publish.

64billion kwa?? Too much..
Melaye is not really an Abobaku.. He seems to be useful.