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The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets said it will launch an investigation into the sale of two helicopters by the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.
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The Committee made the announcement in a statement signed by its Chairman, Hon. Ademorin Kuye, on Monday.
The two Bell 206L-3 helicopters, originally procured for training pilots at the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, were reportedly sold for ₦1.2 billion under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Kuye said the helicopters were sold under the pretext of underutilization by the College of Aviation in March 2023, despite the Nigerian Navy’s offer to buy them.
He added that the Nigerian Navy had offered to acquire the helicopters to possibly use them to address the country’s security challenges and combat oil pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.
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“The committee equally feels the assets could have been converted to the use of Nigerian Police to fight banditry and insurgency in the country,” Kuye stated.
According to him, “the urgency in the sales and concession of public assets at the twilight of the last administration calls for suspicion.”
Kuye pointed out that the alleged approval for the sale was obtained from the previous administration, and that it is only fair that the new regime be allowed to participate in the sale process if there are no hidden agendas.
“Therefore, the House Committee on Public Assets as constituted will investigate the sale of these important training national assets to ensure that due process is followed and that the country is not shortchanged in this deal,” he added.
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