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The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has come under scrutiny after the Auditor-General for the Federation flagged payments totalling ₦522.49 million for firearms and ammunition without sufficient evidence that the items were delivered.

The allegation is contained in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The report identified two separate procurements involving firearms and ammunition intended to strengthen security operations at airports across the country.

In the first case, the ministry reportedly paid ₦270.02 million through two payment vouchers for the procurement of AK rifles, red-dot sights and AK ammunition.

The payments, identified as IPC 1 and IPC 2, were made through vouchers referenced FMA/ABJ/CAP/1047/22 dated January 10, 2023, and FMA/ABJ/CAP/1445/21 dated May 23, 2023.

According to the audit report, the payment documents contained no evidence of approval from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) for the procurement of the ammunition.

The auditors also found several documentation gaps, including the absence of the supplier’s quotation and documents relating to the company’s compliance with requirements of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

More significantly, the auditors said there was no Store Receipt Voucher (SRV) attached to the payment documents to confirm that the firearms and ammunition had actually been received by the ministry.

Firearms allegedly kept at NSCDC armoury

The audit report noted that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), in a request for Payment Certificate, claimed that the firearms had been supplied to the armoury of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Headquarters in Abuja for safekeeping.

The weapons were reportedly to remain there until FAAN completed its own armoury.

However, the Auditor-General said the ministry provided no supporting evidence confirming that the firearms were actually in the custody of the NSCDC Headquarters.

The audit authority consequently linked the lapses to weaknesses in the ministry’s internal control system, warning that such deficiencies could expose public funds to diversion and loss.

Ministry insists procurement was proper
In its response, the ministry maintained that the procurement was properly conducted and that all required approvals and procedures had been followed before payment.

It cited award and acceptance letters, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) documents, due-process review reports, Federal Executive Council (FEC) approvals, contract agreements and payment vouchers among the documents supporting the transactions.

The ministry also said a security clearance letter from the Office of the National Security Adviser relating to the company had been provided.

The Auditor-General, however, rejected the response as unsatisfactory, stating that its findings remained valid until the recommendations were implemented.
It recommended that the ministry’s Permanent Secretary be made to account to the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly over the transaction.

It also recommended the recovery and remittance of ₦270.02 million to the Treasury.

Another ₦252.5m firearms payment flagged

The audit report raised similar concerns over a second payment of ₦252.47 million for sub-machine guns, pistols and ammunition meant to enhance aviation security at airports.
The money was paid through two vouchers referenced FMA/ABJ/CAP/1042/22 dated February 10, 2023, and FMA/ABJ/CAP/1441/21 dated May 23, 2023.

Again, the Auditor-General attributed the irregularities to weaknesses in the ministry’s internal controls.

The ministry maintained that all procurement requirements had been met and that the transaction did not violate the Financial Regulations or relevant government circulars.

It again referred to award and acceptance letters, BPP documents, due-process review reports, FEC approvals, contract agreements, NSA security clearance and payment vouchers.

The ministry further said a letter from FAAN’s Director of Finance and Accounts, dated August 7, 2025, forwarding a delivery note, had been provided as evidence that the contract was executed.

The Auditor-General nevertheless deemed the response unsatisfactory and maintained its findings pending implementation of the recommendations.

Auditor-General also queries ₦163.9m airport tower payments
In a separate finding, the Auditor-General flagged ₦163.92 million paid to six contractors for the construction of control towers at six airports.

Five contractors reportedly received ₦30.95 million each on June 1, 2023, while the sixth received ₦9.18 million.
The contracts were originally awarded on May 24, 2018, at a combined value of ₦4.46 billion.

The auditors said the projects remained incomplete, particularly their technical components, years after the contracts were awarded.

They also questioned agreements dated November 18, 2021, involving five of the contracts, which were executed by proxy between the ministry and representatives of local contractors acting on behalf of foreign companies based in the United Kingdom.

According to the report, there was no evidence of work corresponding to the amounts paid through the proxy contractors.
The auditors warned that executing agreements by proxy could make some contractual provisions difficult to enforce and expose the Federal Government to financial losses if the contractors defaulted.

Ministry blames delays on funding
Responding to the finding, the ministry said it had no direct contractual relationship with the foreign companies mentioned in the report.

It explained that agreements between the local contractors and the foreign firms demonstrated the commitment of the six contractors to the companies.

The ministry accepted the recommendation to take proactive measures to complete the projects and prevent further cost escalation.

However, it attributed delays to issues surrounding the release of funds by the Federal Government, while insisting that the contracts were awarded in compliance with procurement regulations.

The Auditor-General’s findings raise broader questions about documentation, delivery verification, contract execution and internal controls within the aviation sector.

The transactions are now expected to face further scrutiny from the relevant authorities, particularly the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committees, as they determine whether the funds were properly accounted for and whether the firearms, ammunition and airport infrastructure were delivered as claimed.

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A 58-year-old Nigerian cleric, Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle, has been shot dead at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg, South Africa, sparking outrage among Nigerians in the country.

Fakunle was reportedly killed on Friday, September 4, 2026, after two suspects allegedly gained access to his residence and opened fire on him.

According to preliminary information released by the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), the bishop was shot more than seven times in the attack.

NICASA President, Rev. Frank Onyekwelu, described the killing as a “horrific and senseless act of violence,” saying it had left Fakunle’s family, church community and Nigerians in South Africa devastated.

Fakunle, who hailed from Iye in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was described as a valued member of the Nigerian community.

“The continued loss of Nigerian lives through violent crime is deeply disturbing and cannot be allowed to become normal or treated as just another statistic,” Onyekwelu said.

NICASA called on the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other relevant authorities to conduct a thorough, transparent and credible investigation into the killing.

The association said a murder case had been opened at Jeppe Police Station and that investigations were ongoing.

“We demand a thorough and credible investigation that will establish exactly what happened, identify all those responsible, apprehend the perpetrators and ensure that they are brought before the courts to face the full might of the law,” Onyekwelu said.

He said the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg had been informed of the incident and urged Nigerian diplomatic authorities to remain engaged with South African officials and closely monitor the investigation.

According to NICASA, the association would pursue justice through all legitimate and lawful channels while ensuring that the case did not become another unresolved killing involving a Nigerian national.

“The family deserves answers. The Nigerian community deserves justice. Bishop Taiwo deserves justice,” Onyekwelu said.

He also appealed to Nigerians and community leaders across South Africa to remain calm and law-abiding, warning against retaliatory attacks or taking the law into their own hands.

NICASA extended its condolences to Fakunle’s immediate family, relatives, friends, church members, fellow Ekiti indigenes and the wider Nigerian community.

“Enough of the killings. Nigerian lives matter. Justice for Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle,” the association said.

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Reigning Miss Austria beauty queen Lucia Sisic has died at the age of 22 after living with a lifelong heart condition.

Mission Austria, which organises the Miss Austria and Mister Austria beauty pageants, announced her death on Monday, describing it as a moment of “great shock and deep sorrow”.

No cause of death has been confirmed.

Sisic was crowned Miss Austria in 2024 and remained the reigning titleholder because no subsequent contest has yet taken place.

In a tribute, Mission Austria said Sisic would be remembered as a “wonderful young woman” and offered its condolences to her family, friends and those close to her.

Sisic had previously spoken publicly about her heart condition and the medical treatment she received throughout her life.

In 2024, she thanked the doctors and medical staff who cared for her as a child, saying their efforts had helped her overcome many difficult moments.

Sisic underwent seven operations related to her condition during her lifetime. She told Austrian media that her first operation took place shortly after she was born.

She also described how her condition affected her childhood, saying she was unable to participate in activities such as school sports weeks.

Despite her health challenges, Sisic pursued her career and became Miss Austria in 2024.

Herzkinder Österreich, an Austrian charity supporting children with heart conditions, also paid tribute to her.

The organisation described her death as untimely and said she had left the world “far too soon” at just 22.

The charity remembered Sisic as a warm-hearted and joyful young woman who had shown courage while living with a congenital heart condition.

Mission Austria said Sisic would always remain part of the Miss Austria family.

(BBC News)