Secret Reporters No place to hide
Secrets Reporters
In May 2023, the Federal Government of Nigeria appointed Kabir Mohammed as the new Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Mohammed, previously the Manager of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, took over the position from Capt Rabiu Yadudu. Before his appointment, Mohammed also served as the Regional General Manager for the North Central region and the Chairman of the Aviation Roadmap Implementation Committee since January 2022, alongside his role as the General Manager of Special Duties at FAAN.
However, an investigation has revealed that Mohammed is the owner of General Devices Ltd, a private company that has been awarded several federal government contracts, a practice that directly contravenes the Code of Conduct for civil servants and public office holders in Nigeria.
The Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, under the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, prohibits public officers from engaging in or directing private business activities while in office. Specifically, Part I, Paragraph 1 of the Fifth Schedule states: “A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities.”
Furthermore, the Public Procurement Act of 2007 prohibits public officials from awarding contracts to themselves, stating in Section 58 (5): “No public officer shall be involved in any procurement or disposal process, or in the award of a contract in which he or she, or any of his or her close relatives has any interest.”
General Devices Ltd, incorporated in Kaduna, Nigeria, with registration number 162023, has been a recipient of numerous contracts from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria. The company, whose registered address is S14, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna, has been awarded contracts totaling over ₦55 million between September 2018 and October 2022. Some of these contracts include:
On September 17, 2018, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria paid ₦8,940,156.42 to General Devices Limited for the establishment of an airport/airfield sign and marking laboratory for ATE school.
On October 28, 2022, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria paid ₦7,540,967.38 to General Devices Limited for training on control engineering, mechanics of machines, thermodynamics, power plants, and mechanical equipment.
On October 28, 2022, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria paid ₦6,487,607.38 to General Devices Limited for training on control engineering, mechanics of machines, thermodynamics, power plants, and mechanical equipment (Batch C).
On October 29, 2022, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria paid ₦6,736,519.35 to General Devices Limited for training on control engineering, mechanics of machines, thermodynamics, power plants, and mechanical equipment (Batch A).
On October 26, 2022, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria paid ₦6,513,758.60 to General Devices Limited for training on airfield ground lighting monitoring and control system operations and maintenance.
On October 27, 2022, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria paid ₦6,616,199.38 to General Devices Limited for training on airfield ground lighting constant current regulator operations and maintenance.
On October 27, 2022, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria paid ₦5,238,067.63 to General Devices Limited for training on control engineering, mechanics of machines, thermodynamics, power plants, and mechanical equipment (Batch D).
On October 27, 2022, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria paid ₦7,540,967.38 to General Devices Limited for training on control engineering, mechanics of machines, thermodynamics, power plants, and mechanical equipment (Batch B).
The 8 contracts spanning from 2018 to 2022 took a total of ₦55,044,142.56 belonging to Nigerians.
Mohammed’s involvement in awarding these contracts to General Devices Ltd raises serious ethical and legal questions. As a civil servant and public officer, his actions appear to violate both the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and the Public Procurement Act, thereby undermining public trust in the integrity of the procurement process within the Ministry of Aviation. However, all efforts to reach the Ministry of Aviation headed by Festus Keyamo were unsuccessful.
