The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development used the sum of N522,490,349 to purchase guns and ammunition that were not delivered.
The accusation was contained in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
According to the report, the ministry paid N270,020,066.80 to purchase AK Rifles, Red Dots and AK Ammunition to enhance aviation security operations of the Nation’s Airports on 10th January, 2023, and 23rd May, 2023.
It noted that the ministry claimed to make the purchase without approval from the National Security Adviser (NSA) and was not able to provide documents for all due process documents (CAC, NSITF, ITF, FIRS etc) to the paid vouchers.
Also, the report said another sum of N252,470,282.20 was paid on 10th February, 2023, and FMA/ABJ/CAP/1441/21 dated 23rd May, 2023 respectively, for the procurement of Sub-Machine Guns, Pistols and Ammunition for the enhancement of aviation security at Nation’s Airports.
The report read: “The sum of N270,020,066.80 (Two hundred and seventy million, twenty thousand, sixty six naira, eighty kobo) was paid as IPC 1 and IPC 2 to a company through two (2) paid vouchers with Ref. No. FMA/ABJ/CAP/1047/22 and FMA/ABJ/CAP/1445/21 dated 10th January, 2023, and 23rd May, 2023, respectively, for the procurement of AK Rifles, Red Dots and AK Ammunition to enhance aviation security operations of the Nation’s Airports.
“There was no approval from the National Security Adviser (NSA) to procure the ammunition. The company’s quotation for the procurement of AK Rifles, Red Dots and AK ammunition was not attached. All due process documents (CAC, NSITF, ITF, FIRS etc) were not attached to the paid vouchers. Store Receipt Voucher (SRV) to serve as evidence that the items received by the Ministry were not attached to the paid vouchers.”
It added that in the request for Payment Certificate No, FAAN confirmed that the firearms were executed and supplied to the Armory of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Headquarters, Abuja for safe keeping pending the completion of the Authority’s Armory.
But the report said there was no evidence/document to support that the firearms were in the custody of NSCDC Headquarters for safe keeping.
“The above anomalies could be attributed to weaknesses in the internal control system at the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Abuja and risks diversion of public funds, loss of public funds.”
It added in its defense, the ministry responded that the contract for procurement of firearms to enhance aviation security operations at the nation’s airports can be verified because it passes through all the procurement processes, procedures and all necessary documents obtained.
“The necessary procurement documents and approvals were duly obtained. The procurement processes and procedures were duly followed before payments were made (See attached Award & Acceptance letters, BPP, Due Process Review Reports, FEC, Contract Agreement, and Letter of clearance form Office of the National Security Adviser, Payment Vouchers and other documents required for payment). The letter from the Office of the National Security Adviser conveying the Security Clearance for the company is hereby attached for your information. The payment vouchers with the supporting documents are hereby attached for your information.”
But the audit said the management’s response to the issue has been noted; however, it is deemed unsatisfactory. Consequently, the findings remain valid until the recommendations are implemented.
It recommended the permanent secretary should be requested to account to the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly on the money, recover and remit the sum of N270,020,066.80 to the Treasury.
On the second purchase, it said the sum of N252,470,282.20 was paid to the company through two (2) paid vouchers No. FMA/ABJ/CAP/1042/22 dated 10th February, 2023, and FMA/ABJ/CAP/1441/21 dated 23rd May, 2023 respectively, for the procurement of Sub-Machine Guns, Pistols and Ammunition for the enhancement of aviation security at Nation’s Airports.
It explained that the anomalies could be attributed to weaknesses in the internal control system at the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Abuja.
But the ministry responded that the necessary procurement documents and approvals were duly obtained.
“The Procurement processes and procedures were duly followed before payments were made (See attached Award & Acceptance letters, BPP, Due Process Review Reports, FEC, Contract Agreement, and Letter of clearance form Office of the National Security Adviser, Payment Vouchers and other documents required for payment). The Ministry did not violate the provision of the financial regulations and extant circulars, as all necessary procurement documents were obtained.”
“The letter from the Office of the National Security Adviser conveying the Security Clearance for the company is hereby attached for your information. The letter from Director, Finance & Accounts (FAAN), Ref. No. FAAN/HQ/DFA/1/Vol.XI/16 dated 7th August, 2025, forwarding the delivery note is hereby attached. This is not applicable as the contract was duly executed.”
But the auditor’s said the response was deemed unsatisfactory and its findings remain valid until the recommendations are implemented.
Engagement of foreign company by proxy
The report also accused the ministry of paying the sum of 163,918,943.69 to six contractors for building of control towers in six different airports in the country.
It said five of the contractors were paid the sum of N30,947,309.22 each on 1st June, 2023, while the remaining one contractor was paid the sum of N9,182,397.59.
“These contracts were awarded on 24th May, 2018 at the contract sum of N4,459,075,994.19 and were yet to be completed (especially the technical part), six years after the award. The agreement dated 18th November, 2021, in respect of the five contracts were executed by proxy between the Ministry and the representative contractors on behalf of the foreign United Kingdom based companies, with the sum in (i) above also received by proxy.”
“There was no evidence of work done for the sum paid by proxy to the representative contractors, and the execution of contract agreement by proxy made the clauses therein to be difficult to enforce, thereby exposing government to the risk of financial loss in the case of default.”
In response, the ministry said the “FGN/Ministry had no engagement/agreement whatsoever with the foreign company. The agreement between the two contractors, establishes the commitment of the six contractors with the foreign company. Your recommendation that we take proactive steps and make sure that the projects are completed to fore-stall unnecessary inflation is well noted. You are aware that the completion of the projects is subject to prompt release of funds by the FGN. We have and will always ensure that we comply with Procurement Regulations just as we followed all the procurement stages in the award of the instant contracts.”
(Daily Trust)
