The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has denied claims that the ministry is planning to relocate a firefighting simulator from the Nigerian College of Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State, to Lagos State.

This was contained in a statement dated March 3, 2023, by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, on Keyamo’s official X account on Monday.

In the statement, titled ‘Aviation Ministry Refutes Unsubstantiated Rumour Regarding Movement Of Fire-Fighting Simulator From Zaria To Lagos’, the minister noted that the rumour is nothing but the handiwork of mischief makers bent on destabilising the course of the nation.

He added that there was no iota of truth in the rumour because the originator, who is a member of the House of Representatives referred to an unsubstantiated plan by the ministry to relocate the fire-fighting simulator out of the Nigerian College of Technology, Zaria to Lagos State.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has been drawn to a video making the rounds of a motion moved on the floor of the House of Representatives by an Honourable member making reference to an unsubstantiated plan by the ministry to move a fire-fighting simulator out of the Nigerian College of Technology, Zaria to Lagos State and urging the House to restrain the move.

“The rumour is nothing but pure mischief by agents of destabilisation and is untrue. Whilst we acknowledge the patriotism of the House entertaining the motion, we think it was totally unnecessary since the Speaker already had a private audience with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development a few days ago when this issue came up and the minister assured Mr. Speaker that there was no iota of truth in the rumour.

“The minister further put a call to the Rector of the school who re-assured Mr Speaker that it was an unfounded rumour and purely a mischief. So, why the motion?

“We urge the public to disregard any such rumour and it amounts to grandstanding by anyone still trying to make political gains out of nothing.”

The Northern Elders Forum on Sunday expressed grave concern over the rumoured relocation of the simulation equipment from the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology in Zaria, Kaduna State.

A statement on Sunday issued by Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, Director, Publicity and Advocacy/Spokesperson, NEF, commended the House of Representatives for taking a bold stance against this unacceptable relocation plot, especially in light of the suspicious transfer of key departments from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria from their original locations in Abuja to Lagos.

Suleiman noted that these actions raise serious concerns about a deliberate effort to undermine Federal institutions located in Northern Nigeria.

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