…..declares open new Lagos airport terminal
Determined to build airport infrastructure and attract the right investment, create job opportunities for the nation’s youths, the Federal Government wants the airport concession project and the second runway for the Abuja airport fast tracked.
To this end, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed he ministers of Aviation, Federal Capital Territory and Budget and National Planning to fast-track the planned concession of the four major airports in the country and Abuja 2nd runway.
The President while declaring open the newly built airport terminal in Lagos toady said, this has become necessary.
“As the approved Aviation roadmap is being implemented, we begin to experience an unprecedented growth of the sector, putting pressure on the infrastructure and making business inefficient. If nothing is done, the growth will be stunted and all the opportunities lost”
He added, “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 FB&NP has been directed to source special funding for the project while the MFCT is directed to conclude the titling of the approved 12,000 hectares of land to accommodate the runway and other developmental projects”.
According to him, the concession of the four terminals; Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Abuja will further propel development to the sector and grow the country’s economy.
He lauded the Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for the completion of the new terminal, stressing that it would further create more jobs for qualified Nigerians especially the youth.
Buhari specifically said that the new terminal would create additional 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, while the sector’s contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would further be enhanced.
“This event showcases our strong commitment to the growth of the Nigerian economy despite the challenge of finance facing the country. The commitment of this administration includes agriculture, aviation and infrastructure development.
“Our aviation roadmap developed in 2016 has been consistent with infrastructure development. We have designated Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano airports as free trade zone, while we also removed Valued Added Tax (VAT) from air transport.”
