Senate kicks against N64 bn second runway for Abuja Airport

The Senate on Wednesday kicked against the N64 billion contract for the construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The Senate, at its plenary declared that the contract sum was “too high’’. In a three-point motion by Sen. Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West), the Senate acknowledged the urgent need for a second runway at the airport, but that the contract sum was “just too exorbitant’’ . The Senate also urged the Federal Government to ensure that due process and diligence was followed in the design, award and procurement of the contract, while the cost should be “drastically reduced’’. “The Federal Government should reduce this unrealistic cost and duly monitor the award process,’’ Melaye said. Melaye noted that the proposed cost of the runway far exceeded the cost of constructing some airports around the country and even abroad. He noted that the terminal 5 in Heathrow Airport, with four lanes of 4km runway, cost less than N25 billion, while the entire Gombe Airport, with 3.66km runways, cost N8.2 billion. He said that the Jigawa Airport cost N11 billion, Bauchi Airport, N12 billion, Enugu Airport, N13 billion, while the Akwa Ibom Airport cost about N18 billion. He, therefore, wondered why the proposed construction of a mere runway at Abuja Airport would cost N64 billion. Melaye recalled that the contract had been cancelled earlier by the Jonathan’s administration over its high cost, and urged President Muhammudu Buhari to similarly reject it. The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, in his remarks, acknowledged that the second runway was necessary, but added that it could only be executed “at a reasonable price’’. “It is important, but we cannot continue with such reckless expenditure.