CSOs Uncovers FG’s Alleged Plan to Relocate Katsina Airport Project

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

Civil society organisations in Katsina State have uncovered an alleged plan by the federal government to relocate the refurbish airport rescue and firefighting vehicles project of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport to other part of the country.

The project, according to the CSOs, was awarded to Avsatel Communication Limited on December 7, 2022, by former President Muhammadu Buhari to boost Hajj operations and socio-economic development of the state.

The National Secretary of Muryar Talaka Awareness Initiative, Bishir Dauda Sabon-Ungwa, who read the speech of the three civil society organisations before journalists in Katsina yesterday, warned against relocating the project.

Other CSOs that kicked against the relocation of the project are the Katsina Youth Enlightenment Crusade on Peace and Development, and Citizens Participation Against Corruption Initiative.

The groups said: “The attention of these civil society organisations has been drawn to the unfortunate, deliberate, malicious and subversive attempt by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, to relocate a project from Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, Katsina to other part of the country on baseless and preposterous excuses.

“The project awarded to Avsatel Communication Limited on December 7, 2022, was to refurbish Airport rescue and firefighting vehicles of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport. It is important to note that this contract was awarded with down payment during the last administration of President Buhari.”

The CSOs further described the alleged plan by the federal government to relocate the project to other area as harmful, retrogressive and an attempt “to shortchange the people of Katsina, who voted massively for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

They called on President Tinubu to do the needful by reversing the “subversive action” of his minister and order the contractor to expedite action on the project or revoke the contract and re-award it to another firm for immediate completion.

They, however, warned that if the federal government relocated the project, they would team up with other relevant bodies to institute legal action against the government for the retention of the project.

They also admonished the state Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, to intervene in order to avert the relocation of the project, adding that the project, if relocated to other area, would affect the socio-economic development of the state.