The House of Representatives has committed to retrieving two Bell Helicopters, Bell 206L4 BZB and Bell M2061-L4, which were sold to private individuals, depriving the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, of crucial training assets.
Chairman of the House Committee on Public Assets, Ademorin Kuye, affirmed this stance during an investigative hearing in Abuja on Thursday, expressing dismay at the sale’s implications for the college’s training capabilities.
The committee scrutinized the sale process, questioning why several security agencies’ interest in purchasing the helicopters was denied by NCAT management.
Shaka Imalighwe, the acting rector of NCAT, clarified that he was not involved in the sale process, having assumed the role of acting rector in January 2024.
Despite requests, NCAT failed to provide documentation, including approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Ministry of Aviation, and newspaper advertisements announcing the helicopters’ sale.
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Imalighwe confirmed that the helicopters were operational and maintained by aviation authorities at the time of sale, revealing the college’s current lack of training helicopters.
Lawmakers criticized NCAT for employing an unlicensed auctioneer for the sale and summoned past and present Ministers of Aviation, the Ministry of Works, Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), and former and current college rectors for further clarification on the sale’s process.
