3rd April, 2023
Former Education Minister Obiageli Katryn Ezekwesili has slammed Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Aviation Minister, for spending over N12 billion on fire trucks.
Ten newly acquired firefighting vehicles were deployed to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.
According to the aviation minister, providing critical safety equipment was critical to preventing future accidents.
Ezekwesili, on the other hand, pointed out that the fire trucks were expensive and requested more information about them. She even offered to “do a public due process review” of the procurement.
She tweeted, “Hmmm. These fire trucks must be diamond-plated within and without, Mr Minister @hadisirika! At the official @cenbank exchange rate, each truck cost almost $2.4 million. How?
“Now I know why some of your folks deride the Due Process-Public Procurement reforms. I get it now. Minister @hadisirika, in furtherance of the Open Governments program which your @NigeriaGov administration signed to, please share the full specification details of the fire trucks procured.
“I volunteer to do a Public Due Process review of this transaction for you. Let’s do it.
“No matter what we see; no matter the depth of the strange things that happen in our country, Nigeria; let’s resolve to never be wearied nor discouraged in our fight for a good society.
“How can we allow those who don’t want a good society to wear us out? Naaaa… God forbid. I must confess that there were days I felt exhausted and discouraged in this constant fight for a decent society, especially in the last decade.
“Thank God the grace of God always caught me in those moments. That same grace shall abound to all who want a good Nigeria.