Aviation Ministry Moulds Relocation of Katsina Project to South

January 20, 2024 Mustapha Salisu

By Mustapha Salisu

Ministry of of Aviation and Airspace Development is proposing to move the multimillion naira project for refurbish Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles earlier designed for Katsina to a new location in southern Nigeria.

Copy of a letter to that effect dated December 4, 2023, addressed to minister of Aviation from the company awarded the contract, AVSATEL communications Ltd., gave the proposal.

The letter signed by AVSATEL communications Ltd Managing Director, Mag. George Elder outlined several factors for their proposal to move the project outside Katsina to suggested locations in southern Nigeria or Abuja.

This is coming amidst outcry over decision of the Central Bank Governor which is trying to relocate some of the bank’s critical departments to Lagos.

Part of the reasons claimed by the AVSATEL include logistical challenges of transporting some of the heavy duty equipment to be used in the project.

Other reasons according to their preposition are; the need for intensive training of hundreds of skilled laborers, and the strategic importance of fostering independence from foreign suppliers for future vehicle assembly and manufacturing.

The Company equally claimed the economic viability and synergies that would result from integrating vehicles of the Federal Fire Service, pickup trucks of government agencies, and private sector vehicles into the project. As well as laying basis on financial considerations, suggesting that Private Public Partnerships (PPPs) would be more readily supported for a project located in the South.

The firm also proposed the ease of exports to other ECOWAS countries from manufacturing plants in the South and suggested that the initial works in Katsina could be utilized for manufacturing agricultural implements.

PRIME TIME NEWS gathered that AVSATEL Communications Ltd. was awarded the project on December 7, 2022, to supply machinery and tools and provide training for the refurbishment and assembly of ARFF vehicles.