Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has criticized the sharp increase in the cost of constructing Abuja’s second runway from ₦90 billion to ₦532 billion, calling the variation outrageous and unreasonable.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Hardcopy on Friday, Keyamo emphasized the need for public officials to act with integrity and accountability.
“As public officers, we are entrusted with positions where people expect us to act with the fear of God. A 700% increase in the cost of a runway is unacceptable. How much does it even cost to build a new airport?” Keyamo stated.
He revealed that the original contract cost was ₦70 billion, with an additional ₦20 billion for contingencies. However, citing changes in currency value and rising prices, the contractor proposed an adjustment to ₦532 billion, which Keyamo rejected outright.
“The variation is unreasonable, and I had to reopen the bid process. Interestingly, new proposals have come in at a much lower cost, which raises questions about the initial bid,” he added.
Keyamo reaffirmed his commitment to honesty and transparency in handling public projects, ensuring taxpayers get value for money while rejecting any attempts to inflate costs unnecessarily.
