The Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned Tayo Ayinde, the chief of staff to Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, over the whereabouts of the three security helicopters belonging to the state government.
Also summoned by the lawmakers are the state commissioner for economic planning and budget, commissioner for special duties, as well as the management of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).
Raising the issue under matter of urgent public importance during plenary on Monday, the chief whip of the house, Mojisola Miranda stated that the offices and MDAS in-charge of the helicopters should be written to and the assembly should know the agreement between the state government and Caverton Helicopters which is said to be managing the helicopters.
According to her, “If you may recall, in 2007, the House of Assembly passed a bill for the establishment of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) for the state government to equip and strengthen the security agencies in the state.
“The helicopters were bought under the administrations of two past governors- Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode to strengthen security in the state. But, the helicopters are nowhere to be found now.
“I will want us to look at it and get the concerned parties to tell the house the location of the three helicopters to see if they are just lying fallow or if the state government has entered into an agreement with an entity on them and see to what extent the agreement has been working”.
The speaker of the house, Mudashiru Obasa pointed out that the helicopters were meant for both for security and commercial purposes.
Obasa said there was the need for the lawmakers to know what has so far accrued to the state government from the helicopter, saying that this was the first time the assembly would be talking about the helicopters.
“What we have said so far has nothing to do with the image of the state or the assembly. What the chief whip has done is not too much. We need to know what has happened to the helicopters,” he said.
Contributing, Rotimi Olowo (Shomolu 1) said a commissioner had informed the house that they had an agreement with Caverton Nigeria Limited to operate the helicopters so that the state government would make some money from the operations. He noted that it was important to know how the helicopters are being managed so far and where the money is going.
