The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has issued a warning to contractors working in the aviation industry to avoid providing substandard construction work. He emphasised that any contractor discovered taking short cuts will face legal action.
This was disclosed by Keyamo at the groundbreaking ceremony of the permanent site of the African Aviation and Aerospace University in Abuja on Wednesday, according to The Punch.
“If any contractor is found wanting in cutting corners, we will not only terminate the contract but also ensure prosecution,” Keyamo declared.
Keyamo stated that the increasing need for aviation specialists in Nigeria would ensure that the matriculating students from AAAU would not suffer unemployment. The institution recently had the first-ever matriculation ceremony for thirty pioneer undergraduate students and sixty pioneer postgraduate students.
The minister said that in pursuit of this mission, AAAU had been established as a centre of excellence, emphasising cutting-edge research and innovation in its academic programmes.
According to Keyamo, the university collaborates with global experts in aviation education, and its curriculum combines academic understanding with hands-on training customized to meet local needs.
He said a new vice chancellor will be announced soon, subject to the approval of President Bola Tinubu.
“I am pleased to also state here that a new vice chancellor will be announced soon, following the directive of Mr President. You should be rest assured that this appointment shall mark a significant step in consolidating your achievements thus far,” the minister said.
He hailed the partnership between the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau and the AAAU as an example of interagency cooperation.
“This site will house the construction of a Faculty of Aviation Management, two auditoriums with a collective seating capacity of 600, a School of Postgraduate Studies, a central library, and a research centre, among other key infrastructures.
“This was achievable with the approval of a take-off grant for capital projects by President Bola Tinubu through TETFund,” the minister stated.
He noted that the first phase of development for the university would include several key structures such as the Faculty of Aviation Management Building, the Postgraduate School Building, a 250-capacity auditorium, and a 350-capacity auditorium.
A research center, a multipurpose laboratory, a synoptic laboratory for meteorology, and the first two kilometers of ceremonial gatehouses and fence are among the others.
