$15.6m Scam Discovered In Purchase Of FG Helicopters

The federal government may have lost a whopping sum of $15.6 million (N2.3 billion)to scam in a deal to purchase BELL 412 helicopter from the Canadian Firm Bell Helicopter (A Textron Company), if facts supplied by an official of Rivers State Government are anything to go by.

In response to criticisms that Governor Rotimi Amaechi wasted state funds to purchase two BELL 412 security patrol helicopters for $29 million (N4.3 billion) the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs Ibim Semenitari told a newspaper in Abuja at the weekend that while Rivers State paid $14 million, the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), actually contributed $15 million in the deal.
However, checks by Daily Trust reporter revealed that the cost of the helicopter is actually $6.7 million, such that two of BELL 412 helicopters would cost $13.4 million (N2.10 billion), and not $29 million (N4.3 billion), as stated by the Rivers State Government official.
Mrs Semenitari said, “The helicopters, 2 BELL 412 helicopters with camera payload for aerial surveillance of Rivers State were purchased as part of the state government’s collaboration with the federal government and its support for the security agencies in the state.
“The total cost of the helicopters was $29 million. The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Office of the National Security Adviser paid $15 million, while the Rivers State Government paid the balance. The federal government granted duty waiver.”
A check on the website of Bell Helicopter (A Textron Company), says: “The Bell 412 reliably performs in the most extreme climates on the planet every day.
“Its expansive cabin can be configured to accommodate either cargo or personnel. Its wide opening 7.7 foot doors accommodate forklift loading into a 220 cubic foot cabin.
“It seats 13 passengers and two crew in a cabin adaptable for any mission. “The Bell 412 is certified for single pilot IFR with a dual digital automatic flight control system allowing for automatic approach to hover and automatic hover capabilities.
“In addition to offering outstanding product features, the Bell 412 is backed by Bell Helicopter’s renowned in-service support, voted No. 1 by our customers nineteen years running. “If your mission calls for you to go to locations with extreme conditions, the helicopter you should go in is the Bell 412.”
It was not clear why the federal government would pay so much for the helicopter. A call through to the mobile telephone of the National Security Adviser, Colonel Dasuki Sambo (rtd), didn’t yield result as the line was switched off for several hours yesterday.
However, an expert in the aviation industry who is based in Canada told Sunday Trust last night that it would be unbelievable if government paid $29 million for two BELL 412 helicopters.
He lamented thus: “Our country is finished. That helicopter costs between $6.4 million and $6.7 million. “If you negotiate very well, you can get BELL 412 for $6.00 million.
“I can’t imagine what sort of configuration would be made to that helicopter for it to cost $14 million or $15 million. I suspect there’s a rip-off somewhere.”
Only last December, there was an outcry of the fact that the 10 airplanes in the Presidential Aircraft Fleet were being maintained at an outrageous N9 billion annually, even as the costs of those planes were considered to be unbelievable. Each of the two Falcon 7X jets purchased in 2010 costs $51.1 million, while the Gulfstream 550 cost $53.3m.
It was said that the factory price of the Falcon 900 was $35m, Gulfstream IVSP as $40 million, Gulfstream V at $45 million, Boeing 737 BBJ at $58 million, Cessna Citation at $7 million and Hawker Siddley 125-800 at $15 million.