The Federal Government yesterday inaugurated the multi-billion naira new airport terminal at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, in Lagos, vakued at about $100 million.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who unveiled the terminal, said Nigerians deserve the best to enhance their travel experience and other aspects of their lives, thus the huge investment by his administration in infrastructure development.
He also directed the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to look for special funding for the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to conclude the documentation of the approved 12,000 hectares of land to accommodate the runway and other developmental projects.
Further, the President tasked the Minister of Aviation to fast-track the airport concession programme, to boost aviation practice in the country and make the aviation industry reflect global standards.
He noted that the completion and delivery of five brand new international airport terminals since 2015, which were at 11% completion level then, aligns perfectly with the Aviation Roadmap, developed in 2016, for the purposes of establishing critical infrastructure, including a National Carrier as well as maintenance, repairs and overhaul centre, and improved Airports Terminals through concession.
Describing his administration’s investments in inter-state rail connectivity, road networks, agriculture, power and telecommunications as unprecedented, he noted that robust initiatives have been complemented with specific fiscal policies to drive aviation infrastructure renaissance.
“These include the designation of 4 airports, namely Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt as Free Trade Zones, in which customs duty is not applicable; removal of VAT on all forms of shared transportation, including air transportation; and exemption of commercial aircraft and spare parts from VAT payment.
“Similar projects at both the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Port Harcourt International Airport were completed and commissioned by this administration and our people have since been benefiting from the positive economic impacts of those magnificent terminals.
“‘The one in Kano has also been completed, and will be commissioned soon, while work continues apace to complete that of Enugu shortly,” he said.
With the delivery of this project, a new era of safety, security, and comfort has been ushered into the Nigerian aviation industry, and I am persuaded that it will get better with the passage of time.
Terminal facilities
The new terminal, which was funded with support from the China Export-Import bank and constructed by the CCECC Nigeria Limited, boasts of 66 check-in-counters, 16 Immigration desks at arrival, 28 Immigration desks at departure, and eight security screening points, and a host of others, is expected to contribute to Nigeria’s socio-political and economic prosperity.
The terminal will increase airport operations and management services to about 14 million passengers yearly, create 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, increase inflow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and exponential growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“With the delivery of this project, a new era of safety, security, and comfort has been ushered into the Nigerian aviation industry, and I am persuaded that it will get better with the passage of time,” the President added.
Ensuring easy access
Commenting, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said it was instructive that Lagos in one day witnessed the evolution of three major infrastructure development projects that will change the Nigerian landscape.
He commended President Buhari for the infrastructural renewal and redevelopment necessary for a city like Lagos and lauded aviation industry stakeholders for their continued contributions to the growth of the country despite the challenges.
He informed the gathering that the State Government was forming a partnership with FAAN towards ensuring that the new international terminal enjoys easy access, which would be achieved by creating a bypass, the Airport–Alimosho Bypass project, to create an alternative route to the airport.
The signing of the agreement for the partnership was later done by the officials of the Lagos State Government and FAAN.
In 2020, Nigeria’s aviation sector created 241,000 jobs, direct and indirect, and contributed $1.7billion to the economy with a hope to grow the contribution of the sector from the current 0.68% to 5% or approximately $14.16billion.
In his remarks, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who assured that the new terminal will be linked to the railway system, also noted that aviation is the worldwide rapid transportation network that facilitates international trade, commerce and tourism.
He also identified aviation as the only medium for achieving continental integration and interaction towards achieving the AU Agenda 2063.
According to the Minister, a study by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Nigeria in 2020, “showed that the sector created 241,000 jobs, direct and indirect, and contributed $1.7billion to the economy,” with a hope to grow the contribution of the sector from the current 0.68% to 5% or approximately $14.16billion.
He commended President Buhari’s efforts towards resolving the problems inherited in the aviation industry in 2015 such as lack of professionalism, scarcity of foreign exchange, obsolete equipment, poor facilities, blocked funds for airlines among others, adding that more still needed to be done.
The Minister said the airport concession project including the new terminals has reached an advanced stage with the Ministry issuing requests for shortlisted firms before the end of March.