Senate lacks power to stop demolition exercise, it’s for public good, he says
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Senators lack power to stop the demolition of aviation agency offices at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika has told the lawmakers, reminding them of the separation of executive and legislative power.
Sirika reiterated the position in Abuja following a motion in the Senate directing the government to halt the demolition to allow the intervention of Senate Aviation Committee chaired by Biodun Olujimi.
Olujimi had drwan the attention of the Red Chamber to the warning strike threatened over the exercise by the Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, and National Association of Aircrafts Pilots and Engineers.
But Sirika countered the Senate resolution is merely advisory and cannot stop the government from doing its work.
He said the demolition of the “makeshift” structures will proceed in order to recover the space for the construction of befitting projects.
“So, we put it in perspective, the intent of government is to remove the structure that is housing the offices of the Managing Director of FAAN and those commercial departments.
“It was a structure that was made of woods, it’s been there for 40 years, it has caught fire twice, even during our ministration, and to give way for better development for what Lagos has become; it’s the gateway.,” Sirika argued.
“We want to put hotels there, shopping malls, offices, cinemas and the rest of it, so FAAN can make more money. The entire people within that structure are not more than 150 or 200 in that headquarters,”
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“So, government is going to continue, of course. The Senate is advisory, it’s an executive function, we’re not barred by any court of law. So, it’s an executive function and government cannot be stopped from giving development to its people,” Sirika said, per reporting by The Guardian.
“Just the other day, some houses were demolished by Lagos State on our behalf. We’ve been on that issue for some time, we went up to Supreme Court and won. They have to give way for developments. This is in national interest.
“If individuals will drag it out with government, there’s no government worker that can drag out a government. If I want to pull down this hall and build a better one, who will come and stop me from doing that as a government?
“So, I think it’s not an issue, they’re just over-heating it and you know why. But we have responsibility and mandate and we’re not shy, we’re very bold to do all those things that are good for our people and for the government.
“We’re also a very responsive and responsible government. Where it will affect the lives of people, of course, we wouldn’t be indulging in doing it. We’ve been known to be doing those things that better civilisation. This one also is going to make lives very good.
“I’m sure those people that are saying no to it, they don’t want to continue to see Lagos Airport the way it is. So, one or two individuals will not deny Nigeria’s 200 million the joy of having something that we all go outside to see.
“These people, these leaders, don’t they travel? See Dubai, big deal, and now you want to give something like Dubai and somebody said no. Common!”
