March 28, (THEWILL)- The House of Representatives, on Thursday, frowned at the sale of two Helicopters of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, to private individuals.
THEWILL reports that the two NCAT helicopters, Bell 206L4 BZB and Bell M2061- L4, were sold in May 2023.
Chairman, House of Reps Committee on Public Assets, Ademorin Kuye, who spoke at the investigative hearing on the sale of the two helicopters in Abuja, on Thursday, expressed concern as the college was left with no helicopter for training.Â
Kuye also questioned the process leading to the sale of the helicopters as security agencies, including Nigerian Air Force, Navy and the Police, were refused by the NACA management to purchase the helicopters when they indicated interest.
The three security agencies, according to various submissions, did not only indicate interest to purchase the helicopters by writing, but also visited the college.
In his response, Acting Rector, NCAT, Shaka Imalighwe, said though he was the Deputy Rector of the college at the time the helicopters were sold, but was not part of the team/committee that facilitated the sales; adding that he took over the management of the college in an acting capacity in January 2024.
Imalighwe, who told the committee that the helicopters were in service and being maintained by relevant aviation bodies when they were sold, also confirmed to the lawmakers that at the moment, there was no single helicopter in the institution for training.
The committee has directed the immediate past and current Minister of Aviation to appear before it in the next investigative hearing. Also, the Ministry of Works, Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), both immediate past and present Rectors of the College, among others, were summoned.
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