Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah has
responded to President Jonathan's
query to her to explain her role in the
purchase of the controversial
N225million BMW armored cars. See
her response below
Executive summary on the
procurement of NCAA
operational vehicles
“The Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority, NCAA, is the statutory
regulator of the Nigeria Civil
Aviation Industry.
Consequently, the NCAA is
charged with oversight
responsibilities over all civil
aviation operations in the country,
including safety, security and strict
compliance with ICAO Standards
and Recommended Practices,
SARPs, and Nigerian Civil Aviation
Regulations, NCARs.
2. Towards the effective
implementation of its statutory
regulatory responsibilities,
therefore, it is imperative that the
NCAA is fully equipped with highly
specialised tools and facilities,
including adequate operational
vehicles to cover all 22 national
airports and over 400 airstrips. In
keeping with standard practice,
provision is therefore made
annually for the replacement of
obsolete, inadequate & unreliable
monitoring equipment.
3.In the 2013 budgetary appropriation,
provision was made for the
procurement of specialised equipment
(including operational vehicles) to
complement and in some cases replace
obsolete ones.
Furthermore, the fact that NCAA, as the
regulator of the industry, often plays
host to dignitaries from ICAO, IATA, US
FAA, AFRAA, AFCAC BAGASO, CANSO,
ACI and a host of others makes it
necessary to have specialised
operational vehicles.
4.With regard to the procurement of
additional operational vehicles (including
BMW Security Vehicles), the following
due process was observed:
(I) By letter dated April 15, 2013, NCAA
officially requested authorisation from
the Federal Ministry of Aviation to
procure 56 operational vehicles through
lease financing. This option was
proposed to the ministry to enable the
NCAA make 36 monthly payments
based on receipts from Internally
Generated Revenue, IGR.
The Ministry therefore granted due
approval.
(ii)Based on the ministry’s approval, the
NCAA invited Expressions of Interest
from all Banks in Nigeria for the
financing of the said vehicles. EOI was
adopted because the procurement is
two sided. First, the financier would
have to be selected before the supplier
is determined. This is in line with
procurement best practices.
(iii) On May 24, 2013, the response
received from the various banks to the
Expression of Interest, EOI, request was
opened publicly and minutes of the
opening exercise was duly documented.
During the EOI opening exercise, NCAA
got commendation from one of the Civil
Society Organisations, CSOs, approved
by BPP who were invited for the
opening exercise.
(iv) The evaluation of the expression of
interests was held on May 31, 2013
during which First Bank Plc, Union Bank
Plc and Stanbic IBTC emerged most
responsive. On the June 10, 2013 the
above three banks were invited to
submit Financial Proposals. Thereafter,
First Bank emerged the highest rated
responsive bidder.
(v)Between June 20 and 25, 2013,
invoices were received from various
accredited motor vehicle dealers during
which only Coscharis Motors Limited
quoted for BMW Security Vehicles.
(vi) On June 28, 2013, NCAA Parastatal
Tenders Board approved the selection
of First Bank Ltd for the Lease Financing
as well as Metropolitan Motor Vehicles
and Coscharis for the supply of the
vehicles. All necessary approvals were
duly sought and obtained accordingly.
(vii) Between July 8, 2013 to August,
12, 2013 various meetings were held
with First Bank Ltd, contract agreement
was signed and necessary
documentation executed.
Your Excellency is respectfully invited to
note:
(i) The crucial statutory role of the
NCAA in regulating civil aviation
operations in the country, including
safety, security and strict compliance
with ICAO Standards and
Recommended Practices (SARPs) and
Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations
(NCARs).
(ii) The need for NCAA to be fully
equipped with highly specialized tools
and facilities (including operational
vehicles) to enable the effective
implementation of its statutory
functions.
(iii) The procurement of specialized
operational vehicles is duly provided for
in the NCAA 2p 13 (IGR) Budget and
the need for adopting instalmental
lease payments over36rionths.
(iii) That Due Process was followed in
the procurement of the said operational
vehicles.
Please your Excellency my continued
loyally and esteemed regards.
Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, OON,
Honourable Minister.

Only God will save us in this country