Business
FG concessions Lagos, Abuja airports
The Federal Government says it has concessioned the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
According to the tweeter handle of the Presidency, @NGRPresident, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made this known at the presidential quarterly business forum held at the State House, Abuja.
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The tweet stated: “VP @ProfOsinbajo: I’m pleased to say the Fed Exec Council (FEC) has approved the concessioning of the Lagos & Abuja Airports #PQBForum”.
By this action, the federal government is to hand over the operations of the two major airports to private companies and investors who would handle the day to day activities and infrastructure of the airports.
The administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo had in 2007 concessioned the terminal two of the Murtala Muhammed Airport to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), in a public private partnership (PPP) initiative.
This deal signalled the first successful privately-funded Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) airport terminal in Nigeria
The decision to concession the terminal emanated after an inferno that gutted the terminal and prompted the then government to invite private developers to rebuild it.
Controversy however trailed the process soon after the exit of the Obasanjo administration, as the concessioners and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) engaged in a running battle over the deal, leading to several court cases.
Recall that the government had expressed desire to concession four major airports in the country, Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt for greater efficiency.
Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika who had hitherto hinted of government plans, had submitted that government could rake in about $50 billion from the process.
But aviation workers’ unions had vowed to frustrate the move as they said government was yet to meet the terms of agreement with FAAN employees before the MMA2 was concessioned to Bi-Courtney.
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JOHNSON PETER
September 12, 2017 at 8:32 am
They should not waste time to do the road because it’s a major road as we all know. Six months should be okay for the doer
yanju omotodun
September 12, 2017 at 6:35 pm
Even a year won’t suffice making ten lanes road
Balarabe musa
September 13, 2017 at 4:11 am
It’s depends on the commitment of the contractors, roads in abroad are constructed under a month
Anita Kingsley
September 12, 2017 at 10:28 am
This is a good development and best for Nigeria because the leaders we have in power cannot tangibly handle these things to taste
Abeni Adebisi
September 12, 2017 at 10:43 am
The fact that “government could rake in about $50 billion from the process” is what makes it interesting, the federal government is not involving itself in anything that will not bring in more money to the country
Animashaun Ayodeji
September 12, 2017 at 10:33 am
I cannot totally trust the private sector in managing these airports. Nigeria has never really had any good experience with private sectors handling public companies. Nigerians are currently having tough time with PHCN, I hope we on’t regret this decision to hand airports over to private individuals
Abeni Adebisi
September 12, 2017 at 10:41 am
You cannot totally tell for sure, PHCN is different from aviation. In fact PHCN’s problem is more of spiritual than physical because it is unimaginable that a country like Nigeria that gives other countries constant electricity will be lacking power supply.
seyi jelili
September 13, 2017 at 4:04 am
Useless aviation workers planning to frustrate development because of their own welfarism will find themselves to be blamed. Nonsense
Balarabe musa
September 13, 2017 at 4:10 am
They dare not try it so don’t worry