Senate, Reps halt ongoing demolition of aviation agencies’ offices at MMIA; Sirika say NA cannot stop planned demolition of Agencies’ buildings

Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, says the senate cannot stop the planned demolition of buildings occupied by the sector’s agencies in Lagos.

The upper chamber had directed Sirika to stop the proposed demolition of the aviation agencies’ offices, pending the outcome of the intervention being made by its committee on aviation.

Addressing journalists after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, the minister said the senate’s function is solely advisory, thus, it cannot prevent the demolition.

He said the planned exercise was to give way for better development in Lagos.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives corroborating the stand of the Senate, has directed immediate halt to the ongoing demolition of offices belonging to aviation agencies at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

The House Committee on Aviation issued the directive at an investigative hearing with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, over the demolition of houses and offices at the Lagos airport.

FAAN Managing Director gave reasons behind the exercise, insisting most of the structures demolished encroached on the airport’s ‘Red Zone’.

He said out of 254 structures, 220 do not pose critical challenge but 34 were built within the airport’s perimeter fence.

But the lawmakers who were far from being pleased with the explanation also frowned at the sale of FAAN properties and directed an immediate stop to it.

The Committee is to invite the Minister of Aviation to answer to its enquiries regarding sale of FAAN properties.