The House of Representatives has promised to get back two helicopters that were sold off by the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria.
These helicopters, a Bell 206L4 BZB and a Bell M2061-L4, were meant for training but were sold to private individuals.
Rep. Ademorin Kuye, who chairs the House of Reps Committee on Public Assets, talked about this during a hearing in Abuja.
He was concerned that the college had sold the helicopters, leaving none for training purposes.
During the hearing, the committee questioned how the sale happened, especially since security agencies like the Nigerian Air Force, Navy, and Police wanted to buy them but were denied by NCAT.
The acting Rector of NCAT, Shaka Imalighwe, explained that he wasn’t involved in selling the helicopters as he only took over management in January 2024.
The committee mentioned that they had asked NCAT for documents about the sale process back in May 2023 but hadn’t received them yet.
These documents include approvals from the Federal Executive Council and the Ministry of Aviation, as well as newspaper ads announcing the sale.
Imalighwe mentioned that the helicopters were still in service and being maintained properly when they were sold. He also confirmed that currently, there are no helicopters in the college for training.
The lawmakers criticized NCAT for using an unlicensed auctioneer for the sale and demanded that past and present Ministers of Aviation, as well as other officials, appear before the committee for questioning. These officials include past and current rectors of the college, among others.
