Senate can’t stop demolition work at Lagos airport ― FG

Senate cannot stop the ongoing demolition of offices belonging to agencies doing aviation activities at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, the federal government has insisted.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made this position known on Wednesday while briefing correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

His remark followed a motion by the Senate directing the government to halt the demolition to allow the Senate committee on aviation, chaired by Senator Biodun Olujimi, to intervene.

Olujimi had drawn the attention of the upper legislative chamber to the warning strike threatened by the Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, and National Association of Aircrafts Pilots and Engineers.

But responding to a question on the matter, Sirika maintained that the Senate resolution is merely advisory and cannot stop the government from doing its work.

He explained that the demolition of the “makeshift” structures will proceed to recover the space for the construction of befitting projects for Lagos and Nigeria.

Sirika argued: “So, we put it in perspective, the intent of government is to remove the structure that is housing the offices of the Managing-Director of FAAN and those commercial departments. It was a structure that was made of woods, it’s been there for 40 years, it has caught fire twice, even during our ministration, and to give way for better development for what Lagos has become; it’s the gateway.

“We want to put hotels there, shopping malls, offices, cinemas and the rest of it, so FAAN can make more money. The entire people within that structure are not more than 150 or 200 in that headquarters.

“So, government is going to continue, of course. The Senate is advisory, it’s an executive function, we’re not barred by any court of law. So, it’s an executive function and government cannot be stopped from giving development to its people.

“Just the other day, some houses were demolished by Lagos State on our behalf. We’ve been on that issue for some time, we went up to Supreme Court and won. They have to give way for developments. This is in national interest.

“If individuals will drag it out with government, there’s no government worker that can drag out a government. If I want to pull down this hall and build a better one, who will come and stop me from doing that as a government?

“So, I think it’s not an issue, they’re just over-heating it and you know why. But we have responsibility and mandate and we’re not shy, we’re very bold to do all those things that are good for our people and for the government.

“We’re also a very responsive and responsible government. Where it will affect the lives of people, of course, we wouldn’t be indulging in doing it. We’ve been known to be doing those things that better civilization. This one also is going to make lives very good.

“I’m sure those people that are saying no to it, they don’t want to continue to see Lagos Airport the way it is. So, one or two individuals will not deny Nigeria’s 250 million the joy of having something that we all go outside to see.

“These people, these leaders, don’t they travel? See Dubai, big deal, and now you want to give something like Dubai and somebody said no. Common!”

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