FG to install $21.459m jet simulator at Lagos airport

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved a contract for the supply and installation of a full Jet-Flight Simulator (5000 Series B737) with complete accessories for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The simulator which will be installed at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos State, will enable students of the college to carry out their training locally instead of going abroad for same.

The approval was given at the weekly FEC meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Supervising Minister of Information, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammed, told State House correspondents that the contract would gulp $21.459m inclusive of all taxes payable at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment.

Muhammed said the project was expected to be completed within 24 months.

He said, “The project will serve a dual purpose of a training facility for the college and a source of revenue generation for the country.

“In addition, it will be used for the initial training of students as it will enjoy the patronage of the commercial airliners in Nigeria and the West African coast in the recurrent training of their jet-airliner pilots in compliance with the ICAO and NCAA regulations that pilots must have refresher training every six months.”

The minister said the project would be funded from the N3.341m provided in the 2014 Appropriation of the Ministry of Aviation for the “Procurement of Simulator for the NCAT Zaria,” while the balance will come from the NCAT’s 2015 Budget.

Muhammed added that the council also approved the Ministry of Power’s request for the purchase of a building situated at Plot 187, Housing Area B, New Owerri, Imo state as Zonal Office for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.

He said the contract would gulp N131.969m inclusive of five percent agency fee and five percent Value Added Tax.

He said the sum would be taken from the N565.127m provided for in the NERC’s 2014 Appropriation.

He explained that the Provision of office accommodation would enable NERC to effectively perform its regulatory function in the zone.

“After due consideration, council approved the awards of contract for the purchase of Zonal Office Building situated at Plot 187, Housing Area B, New Owerri, Imo State for the NERC in favour of Messrs Chukwuemeka Okoli and Associates in the sum of N131,969m inclusive of five percent agency and five percent VAT,” he said.