What is the Fuss about N255 Million?

Over the past few weeks, the nation’s media have been awashed with stories which have come to be known as Oduahgate. Clearly, as with most things Nigerian, sides have been formed. While some people swear that Ms Stella Oduah is the best thing that has ever happened to Nigeria’s aviation industry and that she is being victimized as a result of her bold steps to correct the ills she inherited in that sector, others are determined to see her sacked for blatant corruption.

Before now, the stellar performance of Ms Stella has gained mythical proportions. Like a colossus, she seemed to have transformed the industry on a massive scale, giving teeth to the new administration of President Jonathan which was then just a few months into office. If you believe the publicity, all the airports in Nigeria now wear a new and modern look, and this is glaring for all to see – never mind that  planes have been falling off our skies. Of course, ‘bad belle’ people blame the recent surge in plane crashes to her ineffectiveness, when they should have seen it for what it is: an act of God.

China, having seen the good works begged Nigeria to obtain a $500 million from them as part of their contribution to this transformation. Nigeria also secured a historical BASA agreement with Israel due to her sterling performance. If you add her stunning achievement with her stunning looks, it should be enough to  draw an Alexandra Burkeesque ‘Hallelujah’ from your lips.

Yet, those who said her airport transformation project is a ruse for monumental corruption point to the allegations of graft, over inflated contracts, allocation of funds for multiplesham contracts, awards of contract without regard to due process, nepotism, forcing operators to buy exorbitant aviation fuel from her company and failing to ensure the safety of air travellers.

Not surprising, some people, evengroups, have  come out in stout defence of the aviation minister. True, the arguement cut across a wide spectrum, from the reasonable or persuasive, to the utterly ridiculous. While it can be argued that her revocation of the irregular concession agreements which were serving the interest of the concessionaires alone and ruining our collective patrimony have made her some powerful enemies who would think nothing of besmearing her person, it is ridiculous to bring her ethnic group into the equation as she has done. It is even more bizarre for a group to suggest that purchasing the said cars for N255 million was done to provide adequate security for our airports.

The noise and the nonsense from both sides have been too much. There are many reasons why Nigerians are angry over the reckless spending of N255 million on two cars. The propriety of acquiring such expensive gadgets has been questioned by many Nigerians, some of whom note that the official vehicle of the United States President is not as expensive as that, and that the cars could be bought for a quarter of that amount.

The morality of acquiring just two cars for N255 million in a country with a subjective poverty index of about 94%, and where students have been at home for about four months because of government’s inability to honour an agreement, has been questioned. The legality of a parastatal under the ministry buying such expensive cars for the use of the minister has also been questioned.

But I ask, what is the fuss about N255 million? Why is there so much emphasis on the cost of the cars? N255 million is not even enough to feed our president for just 15 days; N255 million is not enough for our Vice President to read his newspapers; N255 million cannot maintain our presidential jets for 10 days;N255 million is not enough for our National Assembly for one day. So what is the fuss about N255 million? I think we are not asking the right questions and we are putting wrong emphasis on the cost of the cars.

I’d rather ask the following questions;

1. How much was appropriated for the purchase of operational vehicles by NCAA for 2013?
2. How many vehicles was the said sum appropriated for?
3. How much has been committed to the purchase of operational vehicles in 2013, whether by actual cash or lease financing?
4. Is there a differential between the appropriated sum and the committed sum?
5. If there is a differential, who approved it?
6. Was the person that gave such approval authorised by law and the Nigerian constitution to grant such?
7. Is there a ceiling on the maximum contract sum that can be awarded by a parastatal of government, above which permission must be sought and obtained from the Federal Executive Council before which such contract can be awarded?
8. Did NCAA at any time award a contract above this ceiling in the purchase of their operational vehicles?
9. Did they seek the permission of FEC and obtained it before they awarded those contracts?
10. Can the Minister act on behalf of FEC to approve spending above the ceiling?
11. Is it mandatory that the BPP be involved in the award of all government contracts?
12. Was the BPP involved in the purchase of the operational vehicles by NCAA?
13. Is there government approved due process in the award of contracts?
14. Did the NCAA follow due process in awarding contracts for the purchase of its operational vehicles?
15. Is it compulsory to seek and obtain permission of Security agencies before bringing in security vehicles to Nigeria?
16. Was such permission sought and obtained before the NCAA purchased the security vehicles?
17. Where are the operational vehicles purchased by NCAA?
18. Would a crime be committed if an official of government contravenes a law while acting in the ‘overriding interest of the masses’?

These for me are questions we should be asking, instead of fussing over N255 million.

 

Musa Dickson Achimugu, Minna, @Diqsen