National
FG will not accept N532bn variation on 2nd Abuja airport runway contract – Keyamo
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, has said the Federal Government will not accept the N532 billion contract variation requested for by the contractors handling the Abuja International Airport second runway.
Keyamo stated this when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation to defend the ministry’s 2025 budget.
He said that the variation was against the initial N90 billion for execution of the project.
The minister, while responding to a question on the reported stalled execution of the project, said that the contractor had moved to site after the initial release of N30 billion and payment of compensation to communities on issues related to land.
He said that the contractor had also done excavation on the site and carried out other works from the funds released and thereafter requested for the N532 billion variation.
This, he said, was unacceptable to the government.
“The variation that the contractors are bringing is a variation that I totally disagree with. I will not go ahead with that variation; the president himself doesn’t like variation.
“If a contract was awarded for N90 billion, and they are proposing N532 billion variation within a space of two years, I will not accept it. The option I have is to cancel the contract.
“So, with the situation now, we have two proposals on the table which I will take to the president, and I will consult my chairman. So we are considering various options.
“This country cannot go on with such unreasonable variations,” the minister said.
He said that the ministry proposed a total of N71 billion in the 2025 budget, with capital projects put at N69 billion, personnel, one billion naira while overhead was N745 million.
Keyamo said that a significant number of the projects listed for completion were already ongoing in the ministry.
Earlier, Chairman of the Joint Committee, Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari, said that the committee must ensure efficient use of the funds allocated in order to achieve tangible results.
According to him, the committee will strengthen its oversight on the ministry and the firm spending the funds.
He said that the projects were so important to the aviation sector.
Buhari also said that the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) which was removed from the Federal Government’s budget in 2023-2024, had been included in the 2025 budget.
“Therefore, this budget event will be a critical step in our efforts to ensure that our nation’s resources are allocated efficiently and effectively,” he said.
The senator commended the minister and his team for their commitment and the improvement recorded in the sector since the inception of the present administration.
He urged Keyamo to prevail on the agencies under the ministry to always respond promptly to invitations by the National Assembly.
He said that the national assembly had the power to invite the agencies in exercise of its oversight responsibility.
“The only thing we just want to take and appeal to you is your agencies; whenever we call them, we don’t want to issue a second warning; we don’t want a situation where we will call them and they won’t come; we have the power to invite them.
“So we want to appeal to you to appeal to your people that whenever they see a letter from the national assembly, they should show up,” he said. (NAN)
The Nigerian electricity sector slowed in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with the electricity production index declining by 1.64% year-on-year (y-o-y).
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says this marks a reversal from the 5.55% growth recorded in the third quarter of 2024 (Q3 2024).
Average estimated electricity generation rose by 2.34% to 4,206.50 megawatts per hour (MW/h) from 4,110.47 MW/h in Q3 2024.
Similarly, electricity consumption saw a modest increase of 2.63%, reaching 4,105.66 MW/h from 4,000.24 MW/h in the preceding quarter.
This is as the Nigerian economy witnessed widespread expansion in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with 21 out of 22 subsectors recording positive growth.
On a quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) basis, however, the subsector showed signs of recovery, as the index rose by 22.50% compared to a significant decline of 49.46% in the previous quarter.
The broad-based economic expansion in Q4 2024 can be attributed to several factors, including improved business confidence, increased consumer spending, and enhanced performance in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and telecommunications.
The government’s fiscal and monetary policies, aimed at stabilising inflation and boosting investment, also contributed to the positive momentum.
According to the CBN, the improvement was largely attributed to enhanced gas supply to thermal power stations and the continued implementation of the Siemens Power Project, which has positively impacted power generation, transmission, and distribution networks.
Notably, the oil and gas sector benefited from relatively stable crude oil prices and improved domestic production, which provided a boost to overall economic output.
The data also stated that the non-oil sector, particularly fintech and digital services, also played a significant role in driving economic activities.
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) comprising junta-led Mali, Niger Republic, and Burkina Faso have imposed a 0.5 percent import duty on goods from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member nations.
The move further strains relations between the three junta-led nations and the ECOWAS, which they withdrew from earlier this year following a series of military coups and economic sanctions.
The AES, which began as a security pact between the military rulers of the three countries in 2023, has now metamorphosed into an aspiring economic union with plans for biometric passports and closer economic and military ties.
In a joint statement last week, the AES said the levy aims to generate revenue to fund the alliance’s activities.
The tax, which came into effect on Friday, applies to all imports from ECOWAS countries, except humanitarian aid.
The taxes also disrupt the free trade once enjoyed by all countries in the West African region.
The economic implications could be severe, leading to higher consumer prices, supply chain disruptions, and strained regional economic stability.
While it may provide short-term revenue for the junta-led governments, it risks other long-term consequences, including weakened regional integration.
ECOWAS has maintained that it will keep diplomatic channels open with the junta-led states until July, despite announcing their permanent expulsion from the bloc earlier this year.
Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo state, says 14 suspects arrested in connection with the killing of Kano-bound travellers in Uromi LGA of the state have been transferred to Abuja for further interrogation.
The suspects were detained after a mob attacked a group of hunters travelling to Kano for Sallah celebrations on Thursday.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday during a condolence visit to Barau Jibrin, the deputy senate president, Okpebholo condemned the attack and assured Nigerians that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Okpebholo also announced that his government had set up a committee to support the families of those killed.
“It’s unfortunate that it happened in our state. We are here to say, to let you and other people know that we are not happy,” Ismail Mudashir, media aide to Barau, quoted Okpebholo as saying.
“The president is doing something drastic about this. He’s not happy also.
“The IG has swung into action. The DIG CID is in charge. So far, they have arrested 14 suspects.
“So they are bringing them to Abuja for interrogation. We have also set up a committee to see that we take care of the families of the deceased.”
Responding, Barau said the perpetrators of the act must be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We cannot undo what has been done. But we all want – all Nigerians, what they are looking forward to is to make sure that these people are arrested and brought to justice. And you are doing well in that direction,” Barau said.
“And I’m also glad you’ve spoken about the fact that your government is ready to assist the families of those affected.
“I want you to continue to pursue the case so that all those who were involved in these barbaric actions are brought to justice. It’s a barbaric action, to say the facts.”
He urged the Edo government to ensure all those involved were held accountable, adding that such attacks must never happen again.