Senate opposes N64bn runway for Abuja airport

The senate on Wednesday kicked against the N64 billion contract for the construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

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 said the contract sum was “just too exorbitant” .

The senate also urged the federal government to ensure that due process and diligence was followed in the design, award and procurement of the contract.

“The federal government should reduce this unrealistic cost and duly monitor the award process,” Melaye said.

Melaye said the proposed cost of the runway 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 added that the Jigawa airport cost N11 billion, Bauchi airport N12 billion, Enugu airport N13 billion and Akwa Ibom airport N18 billion.

Melaye said the immediate past administration had earlier cancelled the contract over its high cost, and urged President Muhammudu Buhari to similarly reject it.

In his remarks, Senate President Bukola Saraki acknowledged that the second runway was necessary but advised that it should be executed at a reasonable cost.

“It is important, but we cannot continue with such reckless expenditure,” he said.

“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.”