Senator Wants Airports Privatised

As a way of raising funds and make Nigerian airports meet international standard, Senate Committee chairman on Aviation, Anyim Ude has proposed the privatisation of airports.

Ude, who spoke with journalists during the inauguration of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, said it was only when the airports were given to private sector players that the passengers can enjoy their services.

He noted that the committee in the  course of carrying out its oversight functions set the agenda for the development of the aviation industry, adding: “I believe we will get the right people and I still believe privatisation is the answer because all the airports outside the country they are not run by government and I think there is too much in government  hands”.

According to Ude, there are very many good fellows and honest Nigerians who can retreat and re-strategise and improve the mechanism, pointing out that the problem in the aviation industry is that people first thing about themselves instead of service.

“People should think of service first and after that, other things will come. There are many honest contractors and concessionaries”, he stressed, saying that funds service from the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) should be kept.

The Senate Committee chairman explained that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has the responsibility to manage  the funds, stating that the finds should no longer be domiciled in the presidency.

He disclosed that about $47 million was recovered and transferred t the NCAA, adding that the N500 billion bailout funds already  with the Central Bank of  Nigeria (CBN) as soft loan is an indication of government’s  readiness to support the sector.

Ude said airline operators’ request for tax waivers and the construction of a national hanger at a  time the government had just provided a N500 billion life-loan was  out of place and hinted that “we have interacted with the airtimes and they recommended the soft loan”.

Shedie OKpara