FG approves N106billion for the construction of 11 more airports

She
said the new international terminal projects were different from the
on-going remodelling and reconstruction of 11 airports in the country. The
Minister said the 11 new projects would include five international
terminals for commercial flights and six for perishable cargoes. She
said that the FEC had given approval for the award of contracts for the
“immediate take off of construction work on the five terminals for
international flights.
“They are Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu. Continue reading

The six perishable cargo terminals will be in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Asaba.

Mrs
Oduah said that the projects were part of the government’s plans to
achieve its transformation agenda in the aviation sector.

“The
second phase in our implementation strategy of the Road Map which falls
under the medium term programme of action is the construction of five
new international terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and
Enugu.

“Only
yesterday (Wednesday), we achieved a significant milestone in this
regard when Mr President and the FEC graciously granted approval for the
award of contract for the immediate take-off of construction work on
these terminals.

“For
us as a ministry and government, we consider this development a huge
opportunity to put to practical effect, the present administration’s
Transformation Agenda,” Mr Oduah said.

The
minister said that the first phase of the remodelling and construction
of 11 airports would be completed in the next 90 days, while the
contract for the second phase of another 11 airports would take two
years before completion.

She
said the projects were to be executed with a concessionary loan from
China Nexim Bank in 22 years with 5 years moratorium at an interest rate
of 2 per cent adding that mobilisation to site by the contractors was
expected to commence in the next 90 days.

“What
this means is that before the end of the lifespan of this
administration, we would have been able to bequeath to Nigerians the
airports of their dreams.

“Our
dream is to also strive to transform Nigeria’s aviation sector into a
major contributor to the nation’s GDP and the airports are pivotal to
the actualisation of this dream.

“The
award of contracts for the construction of the new international
airport terminals will, therefore, be a significant first step in this
direction,” she said.

Eleven
airports are currently undergoing reconstruction nationwide. These
airport include: Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the General
Aviation Terminal (GAT), Lagos; the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport, Abuja; Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa; the Akanu
Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the Malam Aminu Kano
International Airport, Kano.

Others
are Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, Yakubu Gowon Airport,
Jos; the airports in Yola, Kaduna and Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri.

Reinstatement of Dana airline

The
Minister reacted to the recent lifting of the suspension imposed on
Dana airline over the 3 June 2012 air crash which killed over 153 people
in Lagos.

Mrs
Oduah said the federal government lifted the suspension of the airline
following the report of a technical audit of the operator which did not
indict the company.

Although
she expressed pain over the unfortunate incident, the Minister said the
government was not under any pressure to restore the airline’s
operating licence as she assured Nigerians and the travelling public
that safety remains a major priority of the federal government.

Source: CHANNELS