How aviation ministry spent N522m on guns, ammunition that were not delivered – Audit report

The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development paid N522,490,349 for AK rifles, sub-machine guns, pistols and ammunition that were never confirmed delivered, the Auditor-General for the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses in MDAs has revealed.

According to Daily Trust, the report flagged two separate payments — N270,020,066.80 for AK rifles and ammunition, and N252,470,282.20 for sub-machine guns and pistols — both lacking NSA approval, due process documents and store receipt vouchers to confirm delivery.

While the ministry maintained all procurement procedures were followed, the Auditor-General described its responses as “unsatisfactory” and recommended the Permanent Secretary account to National Assembly Public Accounts Committees and recover the funds.

The report also flagged N163,918,943 paid to proxy contractors for six airport control towers awarded in 2018 and still uncompleted six years later.