Nigerians question Aviation Minister over spending N12Bn on 10 Fire Fighting Trucks

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika is under fire for spending a whopping sum of N12 billion to acquire 10 firefighting trucks in Nigeria Airports.

Sirika disclosed on Sunday that he commissioned ten firefighting trucks for the Federal Airports Authority, FAAN.

In his post through Twitter, a microblogging site, Sirika revealed that FAAN had not bought firefighting trucks in 15 years.

“Just commissioned 10 Firefighting trucks, the total cost of over 12Bn Naira. More to come in due course. Safety has been the Buhari focus in Aviation since 2015. Hitherto, FAAN has not bought new trucks in 15 years”, the Minister posted.

The N12 billion paid to acquire the trucks means Sirika’s ministry used N1.2 billion to buy each of the trucks that are mostly used in Africa and Arab countries.

It was gathered that the firefighting trucks are made by the Turkish firm, Volkan. The truck is a Lion 6×6 model used by Uganda, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and seven other countries.

However, in a swift response to Sirika’s post, the cost of the firefighting trucks has led to criticism from some Nigerians. Reacting to Sirika’s post, some said one truck shouldn’t cost as much as N1 billion and some others saying spending N12 billion on Ten firefighting trucks is a fraud.

“How would Ten fighting trucks cost N12 billion?” Nigerians queried.

Nigerians’ reactions below:

According to the Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress and an activist, Omoyole Sowore, the Minister and President Muhammadu Buhari had finished Nigeria. In his tweet, he said: “Wow! You mean you bought a single fire engine for over $2 million each. Wonders shall never cease. You and @mbuhari really finished Nigeria!”.

@Mood Obidient “I can confirm that Firefighting trucks are expensive depending on the model, and it is in the interest of Nigerians to know the exact specification before concluding. Yes, the 10 Firefighting trucks can also cost 12Bn Naira depending on the dollar exchange rate. In fact, according to The Morning Call, a ladder truck for Forks, Indiana, was estimated to cost $2.5 million. Dover fire department estimates it costs them $840,000 to put a fully equipped pumper engine on the road. Please inform the public of the exact Firefighting trucks purchased”

According to a lawyer with username, @MikeInyeneesq, the Twitter user wrote: “Last minute clearing of Government funds. Datti was right, inflated government contract is another form of corruption. 12Bn naira should be able to build you a firefighting vehicle plant.”

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Another Nigerian, with username, @bellotabdullahi, said: “10 or 100? Are they flying firefighting trucks? Do they foresee and forestall accidents? N1.2Bn per truck?! I want to believe is a typo if not pls @officialEFCC beam your searchlight here!”

Similarly, a supply chain expert, with username, @JosephOnuorah, stated: “Minister of Aviation HADI SIRIKA claim he spent 12 bn to buy 10 fire trucks 🚒 at rate of 1.2bn each! The most expensive Fire truck in the world is less than 1bn naira. The man or somebody duping the ministry made 2.5bn from one transaction. This is why Abuja “Boys” do not…”

Also commenting on the truck’s cost is a user with the account, @IkukuomaC. The Twitter user wrote: “Nigerian minister for Aviation Haidi Sirika has confirmed that federal government bought 10 fire service truck for 12 billion naira meaning each of the truck cost 1.2 billion..”

@Valchekwas: “I spent the last hours researching how much fire trucks cost; the expensive high-end trucks cost $650,000 (which Nigeria never gets the best of, I can bet these are used trucks too). NYC fire fighting trucks cost $550k each; what truck did you buy for $2.8m. You, sir and your cohorts are thieves. Give the spec of this truck and what makes it N1.2B each— the ridiculous broad daylight robbery of our coffers.”