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2nd Abuja Airport Runway contract revoked over N532bn variation request – Minister
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The Minister of Aviation and AeroSpace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, on Wednesday revealed how he rejected an outrageous contract variation of N532 billion from the original sum of N90 billion, for the 2nd runway of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Keyamo made the disclosure when he appeared before the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, saying the Ministry has since revoked the contract to pave the way for fresh bidding.
He said: “After the N3.4 billion post contract consultancy fee paid to the contractor handling the project in May 2023, N90 billion was later paid in the same year for the whole contract out of which N30 billion was released.
“The contractor, after receiving the N30 billion and joining the Federal Capital Territory Administration to compensate some settlers on the affected land, left the site.
“All efforts made thereafter to get the contractor back to site proved abortive on the grounds of unacceptable contract variation being demanded.
“The contractor in question is demanding a contract variation of N532 billion from the original sum of N90 billion the contract was awarded for.
“To us in the Ministry, the said variation is nothing but fraud, leaving us with no option than to cancel the contract and call for fresh bids.”
Members of the committee asked the minister why the N36 billion owed workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways was not reflected in the Ministry’s 2025 budget for required payment.
The minister in his response said payment for the N36 billion has been shifted to the Ministry of Finance since the money is not meant for capital projects.
“The affected pensioners would soon get their dues from the Ministry of Finance and not from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. I met with leaders of the joint unions on this in November last year and they agreed to an arrangement put on ground”, he said.
He however disagreed with suggestions made by some members of the committee that establishment of Aerospace University across the six geo-political zones should be discontinued since there is one in Zaira, Kaduna State, already.
According to him, as the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, was established in 1964, so also was the Nigeria Law School established in Lagos.
“While the Nigeria Law School has been decentralized, the Aviation College in Zaria has not properly followed suit, which the Aerospace Universities are aimed at.”
He thereafter presented the 2025 budgetary proposal of the Ministry to the committee which according to him, is N71.13 billion, out of which N69.2 billion is earmarked for capital projects, N1.147 billion for personnel cost and N745.7 million for overhead.
However the joint committee through its Chairman, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (APC Oyo North), told the minister the budget proposal would be given the needed approval after submission of full details on the state of 124 projects being executed by the Ministry.
“Historical background and current status of all the ongoing projects being executed by the Ministry are needed as requested for by this committee, latest by next week, for approval of the presented budget proposals,” he said.
The Federal Government has endorsed a new examination fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), effective from 2027.
The approval was conveyed in a statement dated June 18 and signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Adeniji Ibrahim. According to the statement, the decision followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of the SSCE registration fee for candidates from 2027.
The new fee represents an 82 per cent increase from the current registration fee of N27,500. Ibrahim explained that the decision stemmed from a meeting held on March 31, 2026, between the Minister of Education and examination bodies, where the need to review examination fees was discussed.
He stated that the Minister directed both WAEC and NECO to adopt a uniform examination fee for the conduct of their SSCE examinations.
You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Honourable Minister of Education on March 31, 2026, where the need for an upward review of examination fees was discussed, the Honourable Minister directed that WAEC and NECO should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE,” the statement read.
“Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) only as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal), 2027.”
The ministry also directed that the approval be communicated to all relevant stakeholders.
Confirming the development, the Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, told TheCable that the Federal Government had approved the upward review of the examination fees.
“I can confirm the approval of an upward review of the examination fees. I spoke with the director in charge a few minutes ago and he said the approval was done,” she said.
An Iranian newspaper has published a controversial list naming former U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and several European leaders as alleged targets for revenge following the killing of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
The publication is linked to hardline elements in Iran but it is not clear whether the list reflects official Iranian government policy.
The report comes amid heightened tensions after Khamenei’s death and follows renewed vows of retaliation by Iran’s current Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has publicly promised revenge for his father’s assassination.
The newspaper’s publication has raised international concern, with analysts warning that such inflammatory rhetoric could further escalate the already volatile security situation in the Middle East. While the list has attracted widespread attention, there has been no official confirmation that it represents an operational threat or an approved policy of the Iranian government.
The development comes as tensions between Iran, the United States, Israel, and their allies remain at one of their highest levels in recent years, with governments closely monitoring the situation for any signs of further escalation.
News
Military identifies Army lieutenant who paid supreme sacrifice in rescue of abducted Oyo pupils, teachers
Military sources have confirmed the death of an Army officer, Lieutenant F.A. Isaac, during the operation that rescued 44 abducted pupils and teachers from the Old Oyo National Park.
The victims were rescued on July 10, 2026, in a coordinated operation involving security agencies after spending several days in captivity.
According to the sources, Lieutenant Isaac was killed in the line of duty during the rescue mission and was buried the same day.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier confirmed that the military recorded a casualty during the operation.
Sources said Lieutenant Isaac was among the officers leading efforts to rescue the abducted pupils and teachers when he was fatally wounded.
The pupils and teachers were abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on or about June 6, 2026, before their eventual rescue by security operatives.
FG jerks WAEC exam fees by 82%, parents to pay N50k
Iranian Newspaper lists Trump, European leaders as alleged revenge targets
Military identifies Army lieutenant who paid supreme sacrifice in rescue of abducted Oyo pupils, teachers
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