A coalition of civil society organisations has expressed concern over alleged plans by the Federal Government to relocate an ongoing project at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua International Airport Katsina to another part of the country.

The National Secretary of Voice of the Masses, Bishir Dauda, expressed the decision while addressing journalists in Katsina on Sunday.

 Mr Dauda said the civil society organisations viewed the decision as an “unfortunate, deliberate, malicious and subversive attempt” by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo.

It noted that the decision to relocate a project from Umaru Musa Yar’adua International Airport, Katsina to another part of the country was baseless and preposterous excuses.  

The project, awarded to Avsatel Communication Limited on December 7, 2022, was to refurbish Airport Rescue and Firefighting Vehicles of the Umaru Musa Yar’adua International Airport, Katsina.

 “It is important to note that this contract was awarded, with down payment, during the last administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ he said. 

He noted that the project would have tremendous economic benefits to the state and Nigeria as a whole.

He said, “Hence, the organisation considers the harmful and retrogressive action of relocating this vital project from Katsina to another part of the country for a flimsy reason, as an attempt to short-change the good people of Katsina State, who massively voted for the President.

 “At least If we don’t deserve any reward for voting the APC into power, we should not be punished by Keyamo who did not contribute in mobilising hundreds of thousands of Katsina people to vote for Tinubu. We the people of Katsina State cherish the international airport because it is strategic in actualising the development dreams of our forefathers. 

“We will not also take any attempt to undermine it lightly. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander . If Lagos, Bayelsa or Enugu states need a world class airport, then why not Katsina state?’’

He, therefore, called on Governor Dikko Radda, Katsina elders, and patriotic sons and daughters of Katsina to further convey their message to the President that they outrightly  rejected the decision.

He added, “The decision of the minister is meant to retard the development of the state, therefore, we anticipate that the President as a listening leader will do the needful by reversing the subversive action of his minister.’’

The coalition expressed the belief that the President would direct the contractor to expedite action on the project or revoke the contract and re-award it to another firm that had the zeal and capacity to execute it.

The convener of the CSOs, Muhammad Danjuma-Katsina, noted that government was a continuous process, coupled with the fact that Mr Tinubu had repeatedly promised to complete projects started by his predecessor.

According to him, the minister and the contractors seem to have a different agenda.

The CSOs include the Katsina Youth Enlightenment Crusade for Peace and Development, the Citizens Participation Against Corruption Initiative, the Voice of the Masses and the National Council of Women Society.

The contractors handling the project, AVSATEL Communication Ltd, initiated the move for the relocation in a memo to the minister dated December 4, 2023.

The letter, signed by the company’s Managing Director, Mr George Eder, proposed moving the project from Katsina to Abuja or any southern part of the country for some logistic reasons.

 “While we wholeheartedly accept the award and the corresponding agreement, we would like to propose considering the relocation of the project site. Our proposal is based on practical considerations to ensure economic viability and long-lasting success.’’

According to him, the proposal is based on transportation logistics, personnel and training, strategic independence, synergies and financial considerations, exports and utilisation of Katsina site, and other considerations.

 “We believe that relocating the project to the South or the Federal Capital Territory offers a promising future. We are prepared to address any questions and appreciate your consideration of this proposal,” he said.

(NAN)