Business

Workers dare FG over concession of major airports

Published

8 years ago

August 23, 2016

Workers under the aegis of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, have threatened to shut down major airports in the country if the Federal Government does not rescind its decision to concession the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport and three others.

The workers made the threat while staging a protest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday, vowing to embark on more protests to press home their demand.

It would be recalled that the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had on several occasions said the Federal Government would concession four major airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.

According to Sirika, government lacked the required funds to improve the airports as expected, saying the facilities would be more efficient if they concessioned.

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However the workers called on the Federal Government to forget the concession of the four main airports and focus on dormant ones across the country.

While speaking to newsmen during the protest, the Chairman, NUATE, Abuja State Council, Mr. Lanre Popoola, said: “We are not saying they should not concession airports, they should go to dormant airports like Minna. I wonder what Minna is doing with two airports.

“They should go to dormant airports like Gombe. Katsina, and Akure airports are there. They should go there and concession them.

“The Abuja, and Lagos airports, the four vibrant airports are the heritage of our nation. We are not going to allow some contractors, all in disguise of being a minister to come and sell our heritage.”

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