The Supervising Minister of Aviation, Dr. Samuel Ortom has revealed plans by the Federal Government to review the projects initiated by former Aviation minister, Stella Oduah and scrap those projects which are not priority.
Ortom speaking during a courtesy visit to his office by the Senate Committee on Aviation led by Hope Uzodinma, revealed that billions of dollars were being incurred on loans taken out by the Oduah to build six cargo airports in the country.
Ortom said, “We have met with the Ministry of Finance and we are setting up an inter-ministerial committee to review the projects. We have looked at the figures and based on paucity of funds, we feel that something needs to be done.
“We are going to review these projects to see where we can, at least for now, suspend some of the projects that have yet to take off so that we can bring the figure down and work towards working within the releases from the appropriation so that we can settle the ongoing projects.”
He added, “We are going to prioritise, because in a situation where we have this kind of huge challenges, we have to prioritise what we do. Challenges are meant to be overcome by the operators. By the time we put heads together with the Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office of the Federation, we must find a way out.
“There is a roadmap and we have no other choice but to complete this road map that was approved by the Federal Executive Council and ably supported by the National Assembly.
“So, we have set up a committee that is going to look at that and also not just verifying those indebtedness, but also finding the source of funding for these projects.”
“Most importantly, the projects as conceived are very important projects that are necessary, and if for budgetary constraints they are not moving forward, we will find a way. There is no problem without resolution and we will through constructive partnership resolve the problem,” Uzodinma said.