AIR TRAVEL IS UNSAFE. MINISTER OF AVIATION BUYS TWO N255 MILLION BULLET PROOF CARS. PERHAPS SHE WANTS TO FLY ON LAND.

CSNAC also called for the sack of an aviation spokesman.

As more Nigerians and groups continue to express outrage at the purchase of two armoured vehicles for N255 million by the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, a civil society organisation has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the minister.

The group, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), in statement said Ms. Oduah should be sacked for “conflict of interest, invoice inflation and violation of Appropriation Act 2013, at a whopping cost of N255million.”

CSNAC also demanded for the immediate dismissal of the General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Yakubu Datti, who initially denied news of the purchase of the cars as politically motivated rumour.

“However, on Wednesday, October 16th, 2013, Mr. Obi, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, admitted to the Punch Newspaper that the two armoured BMW cars were procured to protect his boss from “imminent threats.” This was after Sahara Reporters published further documents relating to the procurement,” CSNAC noted.

The group also called for the sack of the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Folayele Akinkuotu, for “misleading press address, misinforming the public on a phantom appropriation for the vehicles in the 2013 budget.”

“A quick check by this network revealed information contrary to the assertion or Mr. Akinkuotu. Mr. Akinkuotu, contrary to Mr. Obi’s admittance on the purpose of the vehicles, disgracefully assumed the responsibilities of Foreign Affairs Ministry and State house in his incoherent defense of the fraud.

“We, at CSNAC, hereby join other concerned Nigerians in demanding the sack of these discredited public officers: Mr. Yakubu Datti, the General Manager, Corporate Communications of FAAN, who blatantly lied about the cars’ purchase until documents were made public; Mr. Akinkuotu, for further misinforming Nigerians on the appropriation Act and the purpose for which the vehicles are meant; And Ms. Oduah for abuse of office and violation of Appropriation Act. These characters have in no small measure exposé the country public ridicule before the world; at a time when the country is struggling to overcome the recent experiences of avoidable plane crashes.”

CSNAC also demanded that the government commences an investigation into the transaction. It warned that it will be forced to use local and international means to force the government to do so.

The vehicles were bought by the NCAA on the demand of Ms. Oduah with the agency claiming the vehicles will be in its pool for the use of both the minister and aviation-related foreign guests.