Staffers of government and private organizations at the Murtala Mohammed Airport are soon to be displaced as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has issued letters of eviction to those concerned.
The eviction notice is coming on the heels of the observation of members of the joint Committees on Aviation during their recent oversight visit to the new international airport terminal being built by the Chinese that, the apron was too small and needed to be expanded.
Chairmen of the aviation Committees in the National Assembly, Senator Adeyemi Smart and Nolim Nnaji said, the apron of the new terminal needed to the expanded and the proximity of the offices and buildings near the terminal was a course for concern.
Senator Adeyemi said, “We are the representatives of the people and we must be sure that the resources of the country are not unduly wasted. We must weigh the options and if the amount to be paid out as compensation does not make sound economic judgment we will not allow it.”
The eviction notice has caused apprehension among the organizations and workers of the affected agencies and companies and there are indications that the companies may challenge their impending eviction in the court of law.
To this end, the Nigerian aviation industry is on the verge of huge losses in investment with the two weeks relocation order issued by FAAN.
The affected government and private organizations are: The Accident Investigation Bureau – Nigeria (AIB-N), Dominion, Evergreen Apple Nigeria, Caverton and ExecuJet hangars.
Others are: the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Federal Road Service Corps (FRSC) and the towing companies.
FAAN however has said, though there was no timeframe for their eviction, it also insisted no compensation will be paid but disclosed that, it will provide them another land to re-construct their offices.
Investigation revealed that, if the demolition order is effected, no fewer than N20 billion investments by AIB-N, Caverton Helicopters, Dominion, Evergreen Apple Nigeria, ExecuJet hangars and others may be affected.
A breakdown of the worth of investment shown that, apart for the cost of the land, it was gathered that AIB-N’s facilities at the Lagos office is over N5 billion, while Caverton Helicopters, Evergreen Apple Nigeria, Dominion and ExecuJet hangars have total investments worth over N15 billion in construction of offices, installation of facilities and acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment for their services.
Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, confirmed the relocation order issued to the companies but explained that FAAN would give the affected organisations a new land within the airport environment, stressing that the companies were on the path of the new terminal.
She, however, debunked the claim that FAAN issued them two weeks to relocate, but assured that the new terminal would be open very soon.
She said: “There is no timeframe on their relocation, but they have been told to make plans to relocate. You know they can’t relocate within two weeks. The new terminal will definitely be opened to the public very soon and it will be connected to the old terminal.”
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