The Minister of Aviation and AeroSpace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, on Wednesday revealed how he rejected an outrageous contract variation of N532 billion from the original sum of N90 billion, for the 2nd runway of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Keyamo made the disclosure when he appeared before the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, saying the Ministry has since revoked the contract to pave the way for fresh bidding.
He said: “After the N3.4 billion post contract consultancy fee paid to the contractor handling the project in May 2023, N90 billion was later paid in the same year for the whole contract out of which N30 billion was released.
“The contractor, after receiving the N30 billion and joining the Federal Capital Territory Administration to compensate some settlers on the affected land, left the site.
“All efforts made thereafter to get the contractor back to site proved abortive on the grounds of unacceptable contract variation being demanded.
“The contractor in question is demanding a contract variation of N532 billion from the original sum of N90 billion the contract was awarded for.
“To us in the Ministry, the said variation is nothing but fraud, leaving us with no option than to cancel the contract and call for fresh bids.”