FG to complete five international airport terminals across the country by March 2016

Akanu-Ibiam airport, Enugu
Credits: PRNigeria

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Hajia Binta Bello, has revealed that the federal government plans to complete and deliver five international airport terminals across the country.

The project will be executed concurrently as the airports will be remodeled and built to meet international standards at a total cost of $500 million (N100 billion). 

The airports up for the remodeling are the Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu airports.

According to Bello, the delivery of the airports would not face challenges of finance. 

"We don’t have any financial impediment that would slow down the work that is in progress. " she said.

“The five international airport remodeling terminals are being financed by the Chinese EXIM bank loan and federal government’s counterpart funding of $100 million, which has been paid at the commencement of the projects.

"I therefore assured that the contractors will deliver the project by the first quarter of 2016.” she further said.

“The job is about 45 per cent complete, but the most important thing is that the contractors have all the other materials ready as are only awaiting shipment from China.

"Most of these things are already done as the super structure is already on the ground. And once the materials arrive, it will just be fixing of the materials,” she added. 

Admitting however that the delay at the 22 domestic airports regarding infrastructure upgrade was due to financial constraints, she assured that all hands were on deck to guarantee the collective interest of safety, security and efficiency at the domestic airports.

She further emphasized that steps were being taken to ensure that all airport operations conformed to established laws and regulations in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. 

Concerning the establishment of a national carrier, she expressed confidence in the committee's ability to proffer solutions to the establishment of a national flag carrier that Nigerians will be proud of, with regard to President Muhammadu Buhari's marching order. 

The establishment of a national carrier, according to her, was justified by, not only economic considerations, but also national interest, national pride and job its creation potentials for the country.