Business
Airport, Private Sector Partnership Underway
With the desire to turn around the fortune of the nation’s airports, the Federal Government has reiterated its resolve to partner with the private sector.
Already, the airport concessioning steering committee has began sitting, and have promised to ensure that there is transparency in the discharge of its duties.
The chairman, board of directors of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Ebitimi Banigo, has assured that the concessioning would be pursued with the proper concession of some of the airports and the automation of their facilities to improve on their revenue generation.
He said that this is in accordance with President Umaru Musa Yar’dua’s public private partnership initiative and vision of making Nigeria one of the top 20 industrialised nations by year 20,20.
Banigo, in company of some members of the board, made the position clear at the maiden meeting with representatives of the two industrial unions in the industry, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, and the National Union of Air Transport Employees, at the weekend.
The former minister, whose board recently inspected facilities at some of the airports, including those in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, lamented the poor state of infrastructure, and therefore enjoined the workers to brace themselves for the challenges of PPP, automation and concession, which are global phenomenon that gives credence to the running of commercial operations by the private sector.
The federal government has already slated the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, Mallam Aminu Kano Airport, Kano, Port Harcourt Airport Omagwa, and the Margaret Ekpo Airport, Calabar for concessioning.
“That is why we are charting a new direction with renewed vigour. That new direction, we believe, should be embraced by all stakeholders. The direction engenders great opportunities and possibilities; opportunities to invest, train and build for our today and future”, he stated.
Furthermore, he stated “that is why we are open for business and partnership; we remain unflinchingly committed to our vision of being one of the best airport groups in the world in line with president’s vision 2020″.
Meanwhile the steering committee on concessioning of four international airports set up by the aviation minister, Babatunde Omotoba, commenced work over the weekend when it held a closed-door meeting with the management of FAAN at the headquarters in Lagos.
Chairman of the committee, Dele-Ore at the meeting promised to take all stakeholders in the aviation industry, including industrial unions, into confidence in its deliberations, with a view to making recommendations that would be acceptable to as many interest groups as possible.
He also assured staff of FAAN that their interest would be well taken care of in the proposed airport programme and listed the committee’s term of reference as driving the process of four international airport authority as in the Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Calabar, and that consultants have been appointed to facilitate the concessioning.
“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.
The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.
Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.
According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.
The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.
“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.
“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.
He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.
“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”
According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.
Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.