NCAA Refutes Claims of N250m Official Car Purchase, Threatens Legal Action

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has refuted media report of purchase of 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser (70th Anniversary Edition) worth over N250m for its acting Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo.

NCAA explained that all the directors at the agency had not been given any official vehicle since resumption of office.

To this end, the aviation agency has threatened to sue the publisher of the online medium if the story was not taken down.

An online medium, weekend, reported that, “A few months after appointment as acting director-general of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo is enmeshed in alleged financial recklessness, violations of government procurement regulations, and gross abuse of office.

“The medium reports that the top aviation regulator had proposed to spend N3,000,000,000 on purchase of vehicles; N4,317,070,233 on “international transport”; N3,310,009,756 on “local transport and travels for training” and; N8,342,547,767 on “travels and transport.

“But soon after his appointment as acting DG on December 13, 2023, Mr Najomo went on spending spree, purchasing a 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser (70th Anniversary Edition) worth over N250m, which was not even captured in the budget.”

Reacting, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Michael Achimugu, said there was nowhere around the world where the NCAA has paid for any vehicle since the resumption of Captain Najomo as head of the agency.

He hinted that on the approval and payment for trainings, “due to the nature of job of the NCAA, the staff will always undergo trainings and re-trainings.”

According to him, trainings had been approved and payments made and the staff involved will go for the training when the time comes.

“The only reason for the delay is because of the ban on foreign trips by the president. Once the ban is lifted, they will go for their training,” he said.