Embattled
Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, who is facing separate probe
panels set up by President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the National Assembly
over the purchase of N255 million armoured cars has written the president to
explain her side of the story.
The
President on Tuesday issued query to her to explain her role in the purchase of
the armoured cars.
In her
response which Vanguard obtained exclusively, the minister said
procurement of the cars followed due process and was provided for in the NCAA
2013 budget.
Defence
In her
defence titled: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ON THE PROCUREMENT OF NCAA OPERATIONAL
VEHICLES, she wrote: “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, is the
statutory regulator of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Industry.
Aviation
Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah
Consequently,
the NCAA is charged with oversight responsibilities over all civil aviation
operations in the country, including safety, security and strict compliance
with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, SARPs, and Nigerian Civil
Aviation Regulations, NCARs.
2.
Towards the effective implementation of its statutory regulatory
responsibilities, therefore, it is imperative that the NCAA is fully equipped
with highly specialised tools and facilities, including adequate operational
vehicles to cover all 22 national airports and over 400 airstrips. In keeping
with standard practice, provision is therefore made annually for the
replacement of obsolete, inadequate and unreliable monitoring equipment.
3.In the
2013 budgetary appropriation, provision was made for the procurement of
specialised equipment (including operational vehicles) to complement and in
some cases replace obsolete ones.
Furthermore,
the fact that NCAA, as the regulator of the industry, often plays host to
dignitaries from ICAO, IATA, US FAA, AFRAA, AFCAC BAGASO, CANSO, ACI and a host
of others makes it necessary to have specialised operational vehicles.
4.With
regard to the procurement of additional operational vehicles (including BMW
Security Vehicles), the following due process was observed:
(I) By
letter dated April 15, 2013, NCAA officially requested authorisation from the
Federal Ministry of Aviation to procure 56 operational vehicles through lease
financing. This option was proposed to the ministry to enable the NCAA make 36
monthly payments based on receipts from Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.
Approval
The
Ministry therefore granted due approval.
(ii)Based
on the ministry’s approval, the NCAA invited Expressions of Interest from all
Banks in Nigeria for the financing of the said vehicles. EOI was adopted
because the procurement is two sided. First, the financier would have to be
selected before the supplier is determined. This is in line with procurement
best practices.
(iii) On
May 24, 2013, the response received from the various banks to the Expression of
Interest, EOI, request was opened publicly and minutes of the opening exercise
was duly documented. During the EOI opening exercise, NCAA got commendation
from one of the Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, approved by BPP who were
invited for the opening exercise.
(iv)
The evaluation of the expression of interests was held on May 31, 2013 during
which First Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC emerged most responsive.
On the June 10, 2013 the above three banks were invited to submit Financial
Proposals. Thereafter, First Bank emerged the highest rated responsive bidder.
(v)Between
June 20 and 25, 2013, invoices were received from various accredited motor
vehicle dealers during which only Coscharis Motors Limited quoted for BMW
Security Vehicles.
Tenders
Board
(vi) On
June 28, 2013, NCAA Parastatal Tenders Board approved the selection of
First Bank Ltd for the Lease Financing as well as Metropolitan Motor Vehicles
and Coscharis for the supply of the vehicles. All necessary
approvals were duly sought and obtained accordingly.
(vii)
Between July 8, 2013 to August, 12, 2013 various meetings were held with
First Bank Ltd, contract agreement was signed and necessary documentation
executed.
Your
Excellency is respectfully invited to note:
(i) The
crucial statutory role of the NCAA in regulating civil aviation operations in
the country, including safety, security and strict compliance with ICAO
Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and Nigerian Civil Aviation
Regulations (NCARs).
(ii) The
need for NCAA to be fully equipped with highly specialized tools and facilities
(including operational vehicles) to enable the effective implementation of its
statutory functions.
(iii) The
procurement of specialized operational vehicles is duly provided for in the
NCAA 2p 13 (IGR) Budget and the need for adopting instalmental lease payments
over36rionths.
(iii)
That Due Process was followed in the procurement of the said operational
vehicles.
Please
your Excellency my continued loyally and esteemed regards.
Princess
Stella Adaeze Oduah, OON, Honourable Minister.
Culled from Vanguard
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