The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has rejected a contract variation of N532 billion for the construction of the second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, whose initial contract was awarded for N90 billion.
Keyamo made this declaration while responding to questions from federal lawmakers during a budget defence session with the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation. He emphasized that the contract had been revoked and will be reopened for fresh bidding by interested contractors.
The minister revealed that the contractor was initially paid N3.4 billion as a post-contract consultancy fee in May 2023, followed by N90 billion for the entire contract, out of which N30 billion was released. However, the contractor subsequently requested a massive variation of N532 billion, which Keyamo deemed outrageous and unacceptable.
This decision is seen as a significant step towards promoting transparency and accountability in the aviation sector. By revoking the contract and seeking fresh bidding, the ministry aims to ensure that the project is completed efficiently and effectively, without incurring excessive costs.
The construction of the second runway at the Abuja airport is a critical project aimed at enhancing the airport’s capacity and reducing delays. The Federal Executive Council had previously approved the project, with an initial contract sum of N72.3 billion.
