Aviation Minister under fire over Chinese loan

Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation have disagreed with the Ministry of Aviation over the appropriateness of the $500 million Chinese loan secured in 2013 by the federal government for the remodelling of the Port Harcourt, Abuja, Lagos and Kano airports to international standard.

The members who were on a visit to the ministry, therefore, demanded the full terms of the agreement, the interest accrual and the timeline of the loan.

The supervising Minister for Aviation, Samuel Ortom, however promised to provide the details within five days, even though he noted that he was not in the ministry when the agreement was reached.


This is coming as Ortom is seeking a means of settling the N174 billion debt owed contractors since 2011.

A member of the Committee, Adun Jim Aiku, was visibly angry over the procurement of the loan.

He said they would want to see the agreement for the $500 million Chinese loan.

While trying to calm frayed nerves, and advising its members not to derail from the purpose for which they were at the ministry, which was to conduct its oversight function, the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Nkiruka Onyejeocha reminded his colleagues the primary purpose of the visit.

- NAN