President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Ministry of Aviation to speed up the concessioning of the four major airports in Nigeria, including the Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Abuja terminals.
The President gave the order to the Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika on Tuesday at the launch of the new terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
Buhari also directed the Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed to raise funds for the construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The President in his remarks at the event, said the new Lagos terminal would generate job opportunities for the citizens, especially the youths.
He said 3,000 direct and indirect jobs are expected to be generated in addition to an enhanced Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He noted that the concessioning of the nation’s four major airports would bring more development to the sector and grow the economy.
The President said the aviation road map developed in 2016 has been constitent with infrastructural development.
He said the new Lagos terminal “showcases our strong commitment to the growth of the Nigerian economy despite the challenges of finance.”
According to him, his administration is committed to bringing development to agriculture and aviation industries as well as foster infrastructural development.
He said, “We have designated Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano airports as free trade zones, while we have also removed Valued Added Tax (VAT) from air transport.”
“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 added.
Meanwhile, the new MMIA Terminal, which is expected to handle 20 million passengers a year, comprises of a four-storey Main Terminal Building, three-storey Finger Building, two-storey Cargo Terminal Building, 82,925sqm apron, and external and ancillary works.
Other facilities in the terminal include five baggage collection carousels, Immigration desks at arrival and departure, security screening points, food courts, guest rooms and spa, airline ticketing offices among others.
