The House of Representatives is firmly committed to retrieving two Bell helicopters, specifically models Bell 206L4 BZB and Bell M2061-L4, which were previously owned by the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State, and have been sold off to private entities. This resolve was voiced by Ademorin Kuye, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Assets, during a probing session into the sale of these helicopters held in Abuja.
Kuye voiced significant concern regarding the transactions that led to private individuals acquiring the helicopters, particularly highlighting the resulting predicament of NCAT being devoid of any helicopters for training purposes. The committee scrutinized the sales process, especially given that notable security bodies, including the Nigerian Air Force, Navy, and police, had expressed a keen interest in purchasing the helicopters. Despite their efforts, which involved formal inquiries and visits to the college, these agencies were ultimately precluded from acquiring the aircraft by NCAT’s management.
Shaka Imalighwe, the acting Rector of NCAT, clarified his position during the sale, noting that while he served as Deputy Rector at the time, he wasn’t part of the committee that orchestrated the sale. He mentioned his assumption of the role of acting rector in January 2024, inheriting the aftermath of these controversial transactions.
The investigative committee pointed out NCAT’s failure to furnish essential documentation requested in May 2023, which was necessary to understand the sale’s authorization process, including endorsements from the Federal Executive Council and the Ministry of Aviation, and any public advertisements for the sale. Imalighwe, in his testimony, confirmed that the helicopters were operational and maintained by appropriate aviation authorities at the time of sale, yet NCAT currently lacks helicopters for training purposes, a situation the lawmakers criticized heavily.
The committee criticized the use of an unlicensed auctioneer for the sale and has summoned the past and current Ministers of Aviation, along with officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), including both the former and current rectors of NCAT, to partake in the subsequent hearing sessions. This move underscores the House’s determination to unravel the circumstances surrounding the sale and to ensure the return of the helicopters to NCAT for the continuation of its essential training activities.