President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday directed the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to look for special funding for the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new Terminal Building, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the President also directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello to conclude the documentation of the approved 12,000 hectares of land to accommodate the runway and other developmental projects.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Friday.
Further, the President tasked the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to fast-track the airport concession programme, to boost aviation practice in the country and make the aviation industry reflect global standards.
The President noted that the completion and delivery of five brand new international airport terminals since 2015, which were at 11 percent completion level then, aligns with the Aviation Roadmap of the government.
The President described his administration’s investments in inter-state rail connectivity, road networks, agriculture, power and telecommunications, despite limitations in resources, as unprecedented.
‘‘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.
The President expressed confidence that the new terminal in Lagos with 66 check-in-counters, 16 Immigration desks at arrival, 28 Immigration desks at departure, and eight security screening points, among others, would go a long way in contributing to the socio-political and economic prosperity of the country.
He added that the improvement would increase airport operations and management services to about 14 million passengers per annum, create 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, increase inflow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and exponential growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He thanked the Government and People of the Republic of China, through the China Export-Import Bank and CCECC Nigeria Limited, for their commitment and support towards the completion of the project.
The President also commended the aviation ministry and its agencies, particularly, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, for their efforts towards the realisation of the project.
“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,” he said.
The Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu said it was instructive that Lagos State in one day had 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.
He lauded the private sector in the aviation industry for their continued contributions to the growth of the country despite the challenges.
Sirika said aviation is the worldwide rapid transportation network that facilitates international trade, commerce and tourism.
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.
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.
Sirika said the new terminal will be linked to the railway system.
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