The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, in Zaria, does not have a single helicopter for training, as revealed by the acting secretary of the institution, Shaka Imalighwe.
This was announced during an investigative hearing organized by the House of Representatives to investigate the sale of two municipal helicopters.
Imalighwe told the House Committee on Public Property that he took over as acting principal of the university in January 2024.
He said he was not part of the team or committee that facilitated the sale, even though he was vice-chancellor of the university at the time of the helicopter sale.
Ademorin Kuye, chairman of the House of Representatives committee, said he was concerned about the sale of the two helicopters to private individuals, leaving the university without a training helicopter.
The committee also questioned the procedure that resulted in the helicopters being sold to private persons, even though security organizations such as the Nigerian Air Force, Navy, and Police had expressed an interest in purchasing them.
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According to several documents, the three security services not only expressed in writing their interest in purchasing the helicopters but also visited the school.
However, the university management denied them the opportunity to purchase the helicopters.
After the hearing, the commission directed the former Minister and the current Minister of Civil Aviation to appear at the next fact-finding meeting.
Others summoned before the committee include representatives from the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Finance, MOFI and former and current deans of the university.