Stella Oduah's Answer To Query From The Presidency

ABUJA—Embattled Minister of Aviation,
Princess Stella Oduah, who is facing
separate probe panels set up by President
Goodluck Jonathan as well as the National
Assembly over the purchase of N255 million
armoured cars has written the president to
explain her side of the story.
The President on Tuesday issued query to
her to explain her role in the purchase of
the armoured cars.
In her response which Vanguard obtained
exclusively, the minister said procurement
of the cars followed due process and was
provided for in the NCAA 2013 budget.
Defence
In her defence titled: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ON THE PROCUREMENT OF NCAA
OPERATIONAL VEHICLES, she wrote: “The
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, is
the statutory regulator of the Nigeria Civil
Aviation Industry.
Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah
Consequently, the NCAA is charged with
oversight responsibilities over all civil
aviation operations in the country,
including safety, security and strict
compliance with ICAO Standards and
Recommended Practices, SARPs, and
Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, NCARs.
2. Towards the effective implementation of
its statutory regulatory responsibilities,
therefore, it is imperative that the NCAA is
fully equipped with highly specialised tools
and facilities, including adequate
operational vehicles to cover all 22 national
airports and over 400 airstrips. In keeping
with standard practice, provision is
therefore made annually for the
replacement of obsolete, inadequate and
unreliable monitoring equipment.
3.In the 2013 budgetary appropriation,
provision was made for the procurement of
specialised equipment (including
operational vehicles) to complement and in
some cases replace obsolete ones.
Furthermore, the fact that NCAA, as the
regulator of the industry, often plays host
to dignitaries from ICAO, IATA, US FAA,
AFRAA, AFCAC BAGASO, CANSO, ACI and a
host of others makes it necessary to have
specialised operational vehicles.
4.With regard to the procurement of
additional operational vehicles (including
BMW Security Vehicles), the following due
process was observed:
(I) By letter dated April 15, 2013, NCAA
officially requested authorisation from the
Federal Ministry of Aviation to procure 56
operational vehicles through lease
financing. This option was proposed to the
ministry to enable the NCAA make 36
monthly payments based on receipts from
Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.
Approval
The Ministry therefore granted due
approval.
(ii)Based on the ministry’s approval, the
NCAA invited Expressions of Interest from
all Banks in Nigeria for the financing of the
said vehicles. EOI was adopted because the
procurement is two sided. First, the
financier would have to be selected before
the supplier is determined. This is in line
with procurement best practices.
(iii) On May 24, 2013, the response received
from the various banks to the Expression of
Interest, EOI, request was opened publicly
and minutes of the opening exercise was
duly documented. During the EOI opening
exercise, NCAA got commendation from
one of the Civil Society Organisations, CSOs,
approved by BPP who were invited for the
opening exercise.
(iv) The evaluation of the expression of
interests was held on May 31, 2013 during
which First Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc and
Stanbic IBTC emerged most responsive. On
the June 10, 2013 the above three banks
were invited to submit Financial Proposals.
Thereafter, First Bank emerged the highest
rated responsive bidder.
(v)Between June 20 and 25, 2013, invoices
were received from various accredited
motor vehicle dealers during which only
Coscharis Motors Limited quoted for BMW
Security Vehicles.
Tenders Board
(vi) On June 28, 2013, NCAA Parastatal
Tenders Board approved the selection of
First Bank Ltd for the Lease Financing as
well as Metropolitan Motor Vehicles and
Coscharis for the supply of the vehicles. All
necessary approvals were duly sought and
obtained accordingly.
(vii) Between July 8, 2013 to August, 12,
2013 various meetings were held with First
Bank Ltd, contract agreement was signed
and necessary documentation executed.
Your Excellency is respectfully invited to
note:
(i) The crucial statutory role of the NCAA in
regulating civil aviation operations in the
country, including safety, security and strict
compliance with ICAO Standards and
Recommended Practices (SARPs) and
Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).
(ii) The need for NCAA to be fully equipped
with highly specialized tools and facilities
(including operational vehicles) to enable
the effective implementation of its statutory
functions.
(iii) The procurement of specialized
operational vehicles is duly provided for in
the NCAA 2p 13 (IGR) Budget and the need
for adopting instalmental lease payments
over36rionths.
(iii) That Due Process was followed in the
procurement of the said operational
vehicles.
Please your Excellency my continued loyally
and esteemed regards.
Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, OON,
Honourable Minister.
SOURCE: VANGUARD

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.10