The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development paid N686 million for regulate tower initiatives and firearms, however auditors discovered gaps in proof of labor achieved, provide of things and supporting procurement paperwork, the Auditor-Normal for the Federation has reported.
The findings are contained within the 2024 Annual Record on Non-Compliance/Inside Keep an eye on Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Companies (MDAs) of the Federal Govt of Nigeria, Quantity II.
The record, which covers the yr ended 31 December 2024, was once submitted to the Nationwide Meeting on 17 July 2026 via the Auditor-Normal for the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira.
The auditors known 3 procurement and fee problems on the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Building involving N163.92 million, N270.02 million and N252.47 million, respectively.
The Auditor-Normal mentioned the anomalies might be attributed to weaknesses within the ministry’s inside regulate machine and, in all 3 instances, discovered the ministry’s reaction to the audit findings unsatisfactory.
Keep an eye on towers
In keeping with the record, the ministry paid N163 milion (N163,918,943.69) to 6 contractors for the development of regulate towers at six other airports within the nation.
5 contractors gained N30 million (N30,947,309.22) every on 1 June 2023, whilst the 6th contractor gained N9,182,397.59.
The auditors mentioned the contracts have been awarded on 24 Would possibly 2018 for a mixed contract sum of N4,459,075,994.19, however have been but to be finished, specifically the technical parts, six years after the award.
The record additional mentioned an settlement dated 18 November 2021 in relation to 5 of the contracts was once completed via proxy between the ministry and representatives of UK-based corporations.
In keeping with the auditors, the quantity paid via the ministry was once additionally gained via the representatives performing as proxies.
“There was once no proof of labor achieved for the sum paid via proxy to the consultant contractors,” the record mentioned.
The auditors cited provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and the Monetary Laws requiring procurement to be carried out throughout the prescribed task and bidders to show their eligibility, together with technical {qualifications}, equipment, apparatus and manpower.
They mentioned the execution of the contract settlement via proxy made some clauses tough to implement and uncovered the federal government to the danger of economic loss within the tournament of default.
The ministry, then again, advised the auditors that it had no engagement or settlement with the overseas corporate.
It mentioned the settlement between the contractors established the dedication of the six contractors with the overseas corporate.
The ministry additionally mentioned it had adopted the procedures supplied below the Public Procurement Act in awarding and paying for the contracts, together with acquiring the desired approvals.
It mentioned milestones accomplished have been qualified via its technical division ahead of bills have been made and that fee certificate have been issued accordingly.
The ministry stated the advice that each and every level of labor will have to be correctly qualified via the supervising engineer ahead of additional fee.
Then again, the Auditor-Normal discovered the reaction unsatisfactory and mentioned the discovering remained legitimate till the suggestions have been carried out.
The record beneficial that the Everlasting Secretary account to the Public Accounts Committees of the Nationwide Meeting for the N163,918,943.69 paid to the consultant contractor with out proof of labor achieved.
It additionally beneficial that the cash be recovered and remitted to the treasury, with proof of the remittance forwarded to the committees.
The Auditor-Normal additional beneficial that sanctions in relation to abnormal bills below paragraph 3106 of the Monetary Laws 2009 will have to observe if the quantity was once now not accounted for and recovered.
N270m firearms procurement
The audit additionally exposed a N270 million (N270,020,066.80) fee for the procurement of AK rifles, crimson dots and AK ammunition to give a boost to aviation safety operations on the country’s airports.
The fee was once made as IPC 1 and IPC 2 to an organization via two fee vouchers dated 10 January 2023 and 23 Would possibly 2023, respectively.
Then again, the auditors mentioned there was once no approval from the Nationwide Safety Adviser (NSA) for the procurement of the ammunition.
In addition they mentioned the corporate’s citation for the AK rifles, crimson dots and ammunition was once now not hooked up to the fee paperwork.
Different due-process paperwork, together with CAC, NSITF and FIRS paperwork, have been additionally now not hooked up to the paid vouchers, in line with the record.
The auditors additional discovered that Retailer Receipt Vouchers (SRVs), which might function proof that the pieces have been gained via the ministry, weren’t hooked up to the fee vouchers.
In its reaction, the ministry mentioned the contract might be verified as it handed throughout the required procurement processes and all vital paperwork have been got.
It indexed award and acceptance letters, BPP paperwork, due-process overview stories, Federal Govt Council approval, the contract settlement, a letter of clearance from the Workplace of the NSA, fee vouchers and different paperwork required for fee.
The ministry additionally mentioned an NSA safety clearance letter was once hooked up to the reaction.
The auditors, then again, famous that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had showed in its request for Cost Certificates No. 2 that the firearms have been provided to the armoury of the Nigeria Safety and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Headquarters, Abuja, for safekeeping pending of entirety of the Authority’s armoury.
However the auditors mentioned there was once no proof or report to fortify the declare that the firearms have been within the custody of the NSCDC headquarters.
The Auditor-Normal due to this fact discovered the control reaction unsatisfactory and maintained the discovering pending implementation of the suggestions.
The Everlasting Secretary was once requested to account to the Public Accounts Committees for the N270,020,066.80, being fee for the procurement of firearms with out the related supporting paperwork and that have been now not sighted via the auditors.
The record additionally beneficial that the quantity be recovered and remitted to the Treasury, with proof of remittance forwarded to the Nationwide Meeting committees.
N252m hands procurement
In some other case, the ministry paid N252,470,282.20 for the procurement of sub-machine weapons, pistols and ammunition for enhanced safety on the country’s airports.
The fee was once made to an organization via two fee vouchers dated 10 February 2023 and 23 Would possibly 2023.
The auditors mentioned the related due-process paperwork, together with CAC, NSITF and different required documentation, weren’t hooked up to the fee vouchers.
The fee vouchers additionally had no proof of receipt and issuance of the pieces, reminiscent of Retailer Receipt Vouchers (SRVs) and Retailer Factor Vouchers (SIVs).
Extra considerably, the auditors mentioned there was once no proof that the pieces have been provided and brought to the Division of State Services and products (DSS) Headquarters, Abuja, for safekeeping, as claimed, pending of entirety of the Authority’s armoury.
The auditors additionally mentioned there was once no approval from the NSA for the procurement of the ammunition.
The ministry maintained that the vital procurement paperwork and approvals have been got and that procurement procedures have been adopted ahead of the bills have been made.
It mentioned a letter from the NSA conveying safety clearance for the corporate was once hooked up.
The ministry additionally referred to a letter from the Director of Finance and Accounts, dated 7 August 2025, forwarding a supply word.
It additional mentioned that the problem of proof of provide was once now not acceptable since the contract have been duly completed.
However the Auditor-Normal once more discovered the control reaction unsatisfactory and maintained the audit discovering.
The record beneficial that the Everlasting Secretary account to the Public Accounts Committees for the N252,470,282.20 paid for the procurement of sub-machine weapons, pistols and ammunition with out proof of provide.
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The volume will have to even be recovered and remitted to the Treasury, with proof of remittance forwarded to the Nationwide Meeting committees.
The Auditor-Normal additional beneficial sanctions in relation to abnormal bills and failure to account for public budget below paragraphs 3106 and 3115 of the Monetary Laws 2009, respectively.
N686 million queried throughout 3 audit findings
The 3 audit findings contain a mixed sum of N686 million (N686,409,292.69).
The biggest unmarried quantity, N270 million, was once for AK rifles, crimson dots and ammunition, adopted via N252 million for sub-machine weapons, pistols and ammunition.
The remainder N163 million was once paid to contractors concerned within the building of regulate towers at six airports.
Around the 3 instances, the Auditor-Normal referred to as for the affected quantities to be accounted for, recovered and remitted to the Treasury, with proof of remittance forwarded to the Public Accounts Committees of the Nationwide Meeting.
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