FG orders airport remodelling contractors to return N17.6bn

The federal government has ordered contractors handling airport remodeling projects but failed to deliver, to return funds collected back to government coffers.

Aviation minister, Chief Osita Chidoka, gave the directive on Tuesday, while presenting his scorecard as aviation minister in the last eight months.

According to Chidoka, many of the contractors had nothing to show for the mobilisation funds and other contract funds they had already collected, and they must, therefore, refund the monies, adding that in some cases, the quality of job done was very poor while in other cases they were uncompleted.

The remodeling exercise commenced in 2011 during the tenure of Princess Stella Oduah as Aviation minister.

The outgoing minister explained that when he assumed office, a committee was set up to look at the projects that had been abandoned. He added the committee came up with a report that most of the projects were substandard, adding that aside the order for them to return the funds, most of the contractors had been asked to return to the sites and complete the projects.