Controversy Trails Sirika’s N12bn Fire Fighting Trucks

Controversy has trailed the purchase of 10 Lion Volkan 6×6 Brand, Major Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Vehicles (MFFV) for N12 billion.

The truck carries 14,000 litres of water, 1,700 litres of foam, 250kg powder capacity each, and monitors the discharge rate of between 6,000 litres to 10,000 litres per minute.

The minister of aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has gone to the twitter to announce that he had just commissioned 10 firefighting trucks worth N12 billion.

According to him, “Just commissioned 10 Firefighting trucks, 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.”

However, Centurion Security’s CEO, Capt John Ojikutu, while reacting to this, said  that while the vehicles are sophisticated and of high quality, there is a lack of skilled manpower to sustain their operations and ensure periodic maintenance.

He harped on the need for proper funding and planning, questioning why such contracts were only being awarded at the end of the administration’s term when funds were scarce and external borrowing was necessary.

He further questioned why such contracts were only being awarded at the end of the administration’s term when funds were scarce and external borrowing was necessary.

Ojikutu said,” Each is good enough to be deployed to an airport as Cat 9 but do we have the required skilled manpower to sustain their operations and the periodic maintenance? It is not sufficient to go buying sophisticated equipment without adequate and skilled manpower to sustain its operation life.”

FAAN Procures 10 High-capacity Firefighting Vehicles For Airports

While reacting on twitter, Omoyele Sowore 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!”

Also, another user, @itisikechukwu said, “It will be very helpful if we know the specs of these firefighter trucks as you called them. Research so far has shown that in the most expensive senario, one truck will cost $1.5million and at CBN rate, it will be about N690milloin excluding logistics & training.”

Also, @75kobo said, “A N12 billion contract value for 10 trucks equates to 1.2B each, which works out as $2.6n (USD) each. Presumptions are that contract value would also include shipping, insurance, training, other procurement costs, and possibly future maintenance past a warranty period if such applies.”

While @jomeiza said, “Are you serious or you made a mistake? Ten Firefighting Trucks for N12b, I.e., N1.2 billion per truck? This cannot be happening. Hon Min, perhaps you wanted to say 10 trucks for N1.2 billion, N120 million per truck, which is even not fitting. Minister, come back here with the right figures.”