Lagos State House of Assembly asks Sanwoolu to account for three missing helicopters

MEMBERS of the Lagos State House of Assembly have asked Governor Babajide Sanwoolu to explain the whereabouts of three helicopters purchased by the state government in 2007 but are nowhere to be found today.

Raised during plenary into the matter in a motion moved by the chief whip of the house Hon Mojisola Miranda, lawmakers have summoned some key government officials to explain the details of the agreement between the state and Caverton Helicopters. Those summoned include Tayo Ayinde, the governor's chief of staff; Sam Egube , the commissioners for economic planning and budget and Seye Oladejo, the commissioner for special duties.

Also summoned to appear were members of the management of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF). In 2007, Lagos House of Assembly passed a bill for the establishment of LSSTF to equip and strengthen the security agencies across the state.

Hon Miranda said: "Three helicopters were bought to strengthen security in the state but they 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.

“If the state government has entered into an agreement with an entity on the equipment, let’s see to what extent the agreement has been working." Hon Rotimi Olowo representing Shomolu I, said that the House had approved the purchase of two helicopters during the era of former Governor Babatunde Fashola.

Speaker, Hon Mudashiru Obasa, noted that the helicopters were meant for dual purposes, for security and for commercial purposes. He added that the House should know the amount that had accrued to the state from the helicopters so far.

Hon Obasa said: “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.”