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FG Agrees to Construct 5 New Airports

By on October 1, 2012

The Federal Government has agreed on a sum of N106 billion, through the Federal Executive Council (FEC), to start the construction of five first-class international airports.

Princess Stella Oduah, the Minister of Aviation, revealed this in Abuja during a media briefing to bring up to date stakeholders on the progress in the aviation sector.

The initial stages or quick-fix agenda was to give a face-lift to Nigerian Airports immediately, elucidating that this gave rise to the concurrent modernizing and building of 11 airports across the country. She said.

According to her, the airports include the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) in Lagos, the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport, Abuja

Others consist of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano, Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri, Margaret Ekpo International Airport Calabar, Akanu lbiam International Airport Enugu, and Yakubu Gowon Airport Jos, the Yola, Kaduna.

“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 Aviation Minister promised that at the end of the work out, all 22 airports under the administration of FAAN would be of international standard and recognition, both the looks and the facilities.

The second phase in the execution strategy of the plan, which falls under the medium term programme, would be the building of five new international terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Enugu, she said.

“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 accentuated.

The Minister said that the government’s vision was to make every effort to make over Nigeria’s aviation sector into a main contribution to the nation GDP as the airports are key to the attainment of the said vision. .

“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 noted.
According to the Minister, the projects are expected to be completed within 24 months with a concessionary loan of 22 years with 5 years suspension 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 minister said, she would head to China very soon to sign the contract for the commencement of the work on the five terminals. She however, concluded by saying, Dana Airline was cleared to fly based on government’s satisfaction that the airline was airworthy.