The Federal Government has approved a sum of N106 billion
naira, through the Federal Executive Council (FEC), to commence the construction
of five new, world-class international airports.
Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah disclosed this
in Abuja during a media briefing to update stakeholders on the development in
the aviation sector.
According to her, the Ministry had, on assumption of office,
drawn up a roadmap which she explained had three phases in terms of
implementation strategy.
She said the first phase or short term agenda was to
immediately give a face-lift to Nigerian Airports, explaining that this gave
rise to the simultaneous remodelling and construction of 11 airports across the
country.
The airports, she stated, include the Murtala Mohammed
International Airport and the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) both in Lagos,
the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport, Abuja and the Port Harcourt
International Airport, Omagwa.
Others include Akanu lbiam International Airport Enugu, the
Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano, Margaret Ekpo International
Airport Calabar, Yakubu Gowon Airport Jos, the Yola, Kaduna and Sam Mbakwe
Airport Owerri.
"As at this moment, the projects have reached 80 per
cent completion and would be completed and put to use in the few weeks and
months. The remaining airports will commence shortly", she said.
The Minister disclosed that at the end of the exercise, all
22 airports under the management of FAAN would wear a new and modern look.
She further said that the second phase in the implementation
strategy of the road map which falls under the medium term programme would be
the construction of five new international terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port
Harcourt, Kano and Enugu.
She explained that the FEC approved for the award of
contracts for the immediate take-off of construction work on the terminals.
"Following the approval of FEC, we have concluded
arrangement to commence construction of five brand new world class international
airports. What we have today is not befitting of us as the giant of
Africa", she emphasised.
Oduah maintained that this development must transcend the
immediate euphoria that comes with the realisation that Nigeria dreams for
standard airport are about to come to fruition.
The Minister stressed that the government's dream was to
strive to transform Nigeria's aviation sector into a major contribution to the
nation GDP as the airports are pivotal to the actualisation of the dream.
"The award of contracts for the construction of the
five international airports will be significant first step in this direction.
This is not even talking about the huge psychological lift this will do to our
psyche as a nation, she said.
She disclosed that the contracts for the construction of the
five airports have a life span of 24 months while the projects were to be
executed with a concessionary loan of 22 years with 5 years moratorium at an
interest rate of 2 per cent.
"Mobilisation to site by the contraction is expected to
commence within 90 days. Also the third phase of our implementation strategy is
the Aerotroplis project which are airport cities that provide clusters of
businesses ranging from manufacturing, information and communication technology
(ICT)", she said.
The minster, who told journalists that she would soon return
to China to sign contract for the take off of construction work on the five new
terminals, said the lifting of the suspension on Dana Airline was based on government's
satisfaction that the airline was airworthy, after carrying out a technical
audit of the operator.
Source: ThisDay
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