Stella Oduah
Former
Aviation Minister, Senator Stella Oduah, has said that the achievement
of the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan in the
aviation sector is unprecedented and unbeatable.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the lawmaker also declared that all
contracts awarded by ministry of aviation within the period were in full
compliance with due process. She challenged critics of the Jonathan
administration, particularly in the aviation sector, to just do a
spreadsheet to show how aviation was before, during and after the
administration and how aviation is today, adding that the honest thing
would be to score the regime more than 120 per cent.
Oduah, who dismissed reports that the sum of N3.9 billion airport
renovation fund was diverted during her tenure stated that those behind
the report had some political scores to settle particularly as election
year drew closer.
“As the minister of aviation, I committed myself to the service of my
country to the very best of my ability and as it is widely
acknowledged, my record and performance as the minister of aviation
remain laudable and unbeatable.
“What we did in aviation was so far reaching that it had never been done before; it was so unprecedented.”
According to the lawmaker, the jonathan administration also reversed
the trend of frequent plane crashes and other tragedies that used to
bedevil the aviation sector.
“If you remember how just Abuja airport used to be; one used to
literally find it impossible to use the rest rooms there. To get into
the lounge where people sit was impossible; most motor parks were better
than what we had at the airport whether it is Lagos, Abuja, Sokoto.
“We took them on and efficiently and in a very timely manner changed
every single one of them: and we did not just change that we changed the
safety of the Nigerian airspace.
“Before, we were having accidents literally every six months but we
made sure that the safety of Nigerian passengers was prioritised to
ensure that the landing gears, the flight gadgets, every single thing
that will make Nigerian airspace what it is today, recognised by ICAO
(International Civil Aviation Organisation); it had never been done
before.”
Meanwhile, Oduah has launched a foundation in honour of her late son, Omabuwa Maxwell Oduah.
The foundation, which has been operational for over one year, was
officially launched in Abuja as part of activities to commemorate the
anniversary of the late Buwa, as he was fondly called.
Recall that Maxwell Oduah died in Abuja on august 26, 2016 after a
brief illness. The launch, which was graced by the president of the
senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, had many lawmakers, government officials and
businessmen in attendance.
