Posted by By BASHIR UMAR, Abuja on
The Senate yesterday stalled moves by its Aviation Committee to probe how N19 billion special intervention funds provided for the improvement of aviation sector was spent.
The Senate yesterday stalled moves by its Aviation Committee to probe how N19 billion special intervention funds provided for the improvement of aviation sector was spent.
In a show of doubt and suspicion, members of the apex lawmaking body also rejected a request by the movers of the motion to sympathize with families and friends of the crew members on board the missing 1900 5N Beech aircraft.
Apparently unsatisfied by the handling of the complaints in the aviation sector, especially the missing plane by the Senator Anyim Ude-led committee, majority of senators voted against request by the committee to probe the spending of N19 billion in the sector without commensurate improvement.
Senate, however, urged the Federal Government to employ international assistance in unraveling the mystery behind the missing 1900 5N Beech Aircraft, which left Lagos for Obudu in Cross Rivers State a month ago but never got to its destination.
In his motion, Senator Anyim Ude failed to provide information to his colleagues on the whereabouts of the missing aircraft as well as reasons for the intended probe. But in reaction, Deputy Senate Leader Victor, Ndoma-Egba (SAN), said the motion is unnecessary 'as this motion is just a repetition of what has been discussed in the Senate before now. I think we should send it back to the committee, to on its own investigate the circumstances surrounding the missing plane. A lot of stories are being told about the missing plane that the Senate did not know what to believe."
Senator John Nanzi Shagaya queried the silence of Aviation Wing, owners of the Beech 1900 missing aircraft, over the matter saying, 'why has IASA, the manufacturing company and the insurance company not showing any interest in the intended probe of the aviation sector.
This turned majority of them against his motion in finding the plane. Can we assume that the plane was struck by a thunder and that the bits and pieces have disappeared?"
Expressing concern on the missing plane issue, Senator Sola Akinyede said there was no need for Senate probe into the aviation sector as President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has set up a similar panel to look into the issues, saying, 'any other such probe can prejudice the one ordered by Mr. President."
The Senate Aviation Committee had resolved to probe spending of N19 billion made available to the aviation sector in 2006 for the rehabilitation and improvement of equipments in the aviation sector, which the committee is unsatisfied with.