Minister Throws Light On Issues Surrounding Airports’ Concessioning

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has thrown more light on the misconception surrounding the concessioning of the four major airports in the country.
The minister, in a statement made available to aviation correspondents at the Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa, Monday, explained that the successful completion of concessioning of Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano and Abuja airports would lead to improved provision of infrastructure at the airports, while passenger traffic would also increase at the terminals.
Sirika also said that the concessionaires were expected to provide and maintain landside equipment, while the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) would continue to provide and maintain airside security equipment.
He disclosed that all existing concession contracts within the terminal concession would be transferred to the concessionaires, as part of their management obligations, while all other facilities at the airport would still be managed by FAAN.
According to him, concessionaires will provide the investment required to upgrade the existing terminals, take over the new terminals and maintain them over a period of time to be determined based on financial assessment of each transaction.
On the rumoured mass retrenchment of workers, the minister allayed the fears of workers, saying only 1,158 staff representing 14.29 percent of the total workforce of FAAN, would be transferred to the would-be concessionaire.
He said that the transferred staff would have the option of returning to FAAN at the end of 18-24 months, while staff not required by a concessionaire would also be allowed to return to FAAN after the period.

By: Corlins Walter