FAAN Gives Reason For Aviation Ministry Audit

The Ministry of Aviation is auditing its agencies to verify the number of staff and pensioners, Mr Akin Olukunle, General Manager, Public Affairs, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), says.

Olukunle said in a statement on Tuesday that the clarification was necessary to correct an impression that a fraud of N737.8 million had been uncovered in FAAN.

He said the Minister, Ms Stella Oduah, had also set up a financial audit to look into the fraud allegation.

Olukunle said that the auditors had already begun the auditing on Feb. 1 as directed by the minister.

He said that FAAN did not spend its money on the renovation of toilets at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal, Lagos, as being alleged in some quarters.

He further said the agency was not involved in the alleged illegal purchase of vehicles and payment of estacodes to its staff who did not undergo trainings.

“We wish to state that FAAN indeed purchased 26 new operational vehicles in 2011 at a total cost of N246 million and these vehicles were procured for the use of the organisation.

“This transaction, however, is one of those that are currently being looked into by the financial audit as directed by the minister of aviation to ascertain that the required due process was followed,’’ Olukunle said.?