Abuja — The Federal Government has disclosed that there are about 193 illegal aerodromes being operated by multi-national oil companies which include Shell, Mobil, Chevron, TotalFinaElf, Agip and Conoil.

Minister of Aviation, Malam Isa Yuguda, who made this disclosure yesterday while briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting said investigations and a comprehensive study reveal that Shell has 68, Chevron 25, Mobil 76, TotalFinaElf 10, Agip 13 and Conoil has 1 unlicensed aerodromes in the country.

He added that implications of this include threat to the national security and safety of air navigation, uncontrolled flight operations which would render Nigerian airspace porous, evasion of revenue and air traffic congestion.

the minister however, said the situation has been taken care of with the approval by FEC of the report on operation of illegal air strips, helipads and helidecks and their concession modelling which has been designed to reactivate the management of airstrips to achieve the desired levels of service and security.

Yuguda noted that "before now, there was no policy that was set up by government on their regulations to guide their operations. With this report now, government has come up with a policy on how to monitor them and at the same time ensure that we do not serve as a platform for the security breaches that we suspect they have been into, particularly illegal arms or foreign invasion could be possible through the use of such helipads, including of course illegal airports.

"Also, smuggling activities could be used by them and given the fact that they have not been subjected to the normal surveillance by the regulators to ensure that there are sufficient equipment as required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to monitor their operations. At the same time, we have discovered that they have been using our airspace illegally and have not been paying the required fees," he added.

According to Yuguda, "we have Chevron that has close to about 25 unlicensed aerodromes.

We have Shell with close to about 68, Mobil about 76, Total 10, Agip 13 and Conoil 1. We believe that with this policy in place, government would have the capacity to monitor and regulate the operation of these helipads."

Also yesterday, FEC approved N2.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the Niger bridge to Setraco Nigeria Limited.

Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, while making the disclosure, said that "because of the age of the Niger Bridge, we discovered that the bridge was vibrating. After thorough investigation for about 6 months, there was a report by the international consultants that we must strengthen the bridge to avoid collapsing."

He also said that the Senate has already passed the bill for the construction of the second Niger Bridge but what was being awaited was the House of Representatives after which, if passed "we go on concessioneering."

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) also approved N2.5 billion contract for the construction of the Ile-Ife multi-purpose earth dam on River Owena, N149 million for the second unit of transformer and other devices to the Lower Usman Dam and N241 million contract for the supply of new navigational aids and facilities for the Enugu International Airport.

It also approved N219 million contract for the College of Veterinary Surgeons and Nigeria Coordinating Centre, N70 million for the installation of a water treatment plant at the main campus of the University of Ilorin and N84 million for the rehabilitation of the main access road to the university which was first constructed in 1979.

Contract worth N220 million for the rehabilitation and furnishing of all the 9 floors of the Headquarters of the National Open University of Nigeria which would be situated at the former Federal Ministry of Education in Lagos was also approved yesterday together with another N65 million for the installation of 3 elevators at the building.

The FEC also approved N393 million contract for the purchase of 2 marine pollution control boats and a licence to a private university, City University Ibadan after conclusion of processes.