Discussions carried out at the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee meeting on Tuesday revealed that no physical works have been initiated on the project to develop an airport in HA. Dhidhdhoo as pledged by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu during his 2023 presidential campaign.
In a visit to Dhidhdhoo on January 25, President Muizzu said that his next visit to Dhidhdhoo would be to open the island’s airport. He also said that arrangements had been made to initiate physical works on the project.
The Public Accounts Committee sent letters to both the Transport Ministry and the Construction Ministry seeking information regarding the project.
The contents of letters sent by the ministries in response were discussed during a committee meeting on Tuesday.
In its letter, the Transport Ministry said it has not initiated any work on the Dhidhdhoo airport project.
Meanwhile, the Construction Ministry wrote back that the airport project hasn’t been awarded to anyone under contractor financing policy. The ministry also said that while the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) was contracted to reclaim land and build coastal protection structures for the airport back in April 2024, the company has not begun any work.
The ministry also said that a feasibility study hasn’t been conducted for the project either.
Parliament's Public Accounts Committee convenes for a meeting on March 4, 2025. (Photo/People's Majlis)
During the committee meeting, Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa – a politician from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – noted the emergence of photos appearing to show the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) signing a framework agreement with a Chinese company for the Dhidhdhoo airport project. In these photos were MACL’s CEO Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed as well as Dhidhdhoo MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed.
However, the government has not made any comment regarding the purported agreement.
Abdul Ghafoor suggested contacting the MACL for information. This suggestion was seconded by South Hulhumale’ MP Dr. Ahmed Shamheed, a fellow lawmaker from MDP.
However, the motion did not pass the vote in the committee – which, like the whole of the Parliament – is dominated by the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).
“What inquiry is this committee going to run with people who can’t even agree to seek a letter from a place to see if something occurred,” responded Abdul Ghafoor.
President Muizzu previously described the Dhidhdhoo airport project as a key component of his administration’s vision to bring regional development.