… Directs Sirika to fasttrack concession of four international airports
President Muhammad Buhari on Tuesday commissioned the newly built terminal 2 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and directed that the concession processes of the four international airports should be fast tracked.
Buhari has also requested the Minister of Federal Capital Territory to ensure the tilting of 12000 hectares for the construction of a second runway at Abuja airport
He said with the berth of the new terminal signifies the dawn of a new era for safety, security and comfort in Nigeria.
The president added that government’s continuous investments in aviation and other critical sectors are yielding results and people are attesting to the dividends and assuring it would get better.
“This improvement will increase airport operations and management services to about 14 million passengers per annum, with the attendant positive multiplier effects, by creating about 3,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities for our youths, increased inflow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and exponential growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he said.
Speaking on infrastructure development in the country, he said, ”Government is responding by further investments and partnerships in the sector to tend to this challenge. Consequently, the Minister of Aviation has been directed to fast track the airport concession programme. Similarly, the Abuja second runway is being fast tracked. The Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning (FB&NP) has been directed to source special funding for the project while the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (MFCT) is directed to conclude the titling of the approved 12,000 hectares of land to accommodate the runway and other developmental projects
He expressed appreciation to the Government and People of the Republic of China, through the China Export-Import Bank and CCECC Nigeria Limited, for their commitment and support towards the completion of the project.
Earlier in his speech, Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika said that in the administration of President Muhammed Buhari, there will be air -rail connectivity between the domestic and international airports to shorten the traffic time between both airports.
Sirika who gave his remarks at the commissioning of the terminal also laid on the feet of the president, the numerous challenges confronting aviation business at present.
Sirika who observed that the challenges from access of forex to the most recent JetA1, have caused some setback pleaded with the president to direct the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to import jet fuel in good quantity to help ameliorate the situation.
”Mr. President aviation business suffers from issues of access to foreign exchange by local and foreign airlines and the ability to repatriate block funds. Nigeria currently holds $283m of foreign airlines blocked funds in the country. I would like to humbly request the support of the Central Bank through the directive of Mr. President to prioritize action of forex for all carriers both local and foreign.
“Mr. President is aware of the recent chaos in the sector caused by lack of Jet A1. Flights are unduly delayed and or cancelled unpleasantly.
“While apologizing to our teeming passengers, I wish to use this medium to humbly request Mr. President to direct NNPC to import Jet-Al in good quantities and devise means to sustain supply as well as directing CBN to allocate Forex for the major marketers to sustain supply,” Sirika pleaded.
