The Delta State government on Tuesday formerly handed over the Asaba International Airport to the Asaba Airport Company Limited, the company that won the concession bid.
In a brief ceremony the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Patrick Ukah, who represented Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said the six months transition period had ended.
He said the state government was happy about the concession model, which the federal government and other state governments have been studying to copy.
After receiving the handover documents, the Chairman of Asaba Airport company Ltd, Mr. Adebisi Adebutu said the transition had been fantastic and seamless, adding that so far it was a fantastic relationship.
Adebutu assured that in the concession agreement and partnership the government would benefit, the people would benefit and the objective for the enterprise would be realised.
The SSG was accompanied by a number of advisers including Senior Policy Adviser, Professor Slyvester Monye, the man who drove to concession to fruition.
On the Asaba Airport Company Ltd team were the Executive Director Business Development/Government Relations, Okey Nelson Moore, Executive Director, Finance, Mr. Eyo, Group HR, Tayo Akinpelu, Group Project Manager, Ola Oluwa, Managing Director, Asaba Airport company, Christophe Pinnick and General Manager Operations, Linol Thorne.
The Concession agreement, which was signed in February 2021, would run for 30 years.
Prior to the ceremony the concessionaire has positioned to make the airport to wear a new look. Car parks lights, which were nonexistent, had been installed and 120 staff employed and trained to put the airport in full operation.
Passengers enjoyed a free wifi within the arrival and departure halls.
For the first time, the concessionaire has been able to attract a Ground Power Unit (GPU) to the airport through Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO, the handling company.
The concessionaire had paid one N1 billion to the state government when the agreement was signed, and would pay an annual fee of N100 million, while the agreement subsists.
The Asaba Airport Company Limited, the concessionaire is a consortium that has technical partners which include Air Peace as the anchor airline and MRO operator, Multifreight Cargo and logistics for cargo and logistics centre, Rainoil Ltd and Cybernetic Ltg to develop tank farm and supply Aviation fuel, Arbico construction company to build business park, hotel and convention centre and Quorum Aviation Ltd to develop private jet and helicopter terminal of the airport.
According to the Managing Director of the new company, three airlines – Air Peace, United Nigeria Airline and Aero are currently operating into the Airport, adding that Air Peace would increase its daily flights.
He said Ibom Air, Dana Air and Arik have indicated interest to operate into the airport.
