*Sirika Urges CBN to Pay Airlines’ Blocked Funds, Make Forex Available to Oil Marketers to Import Aviation Fuel
*Minister Calls for Review of COVID-19 Protocols to Enhance Air Travel
President Muhammadu Buhari said that his administration has prioritised infrastructure development to spur the creation of jobs and boost the nation’s economy and has directed the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning to make money available for the building of second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Buhari stated this when he unveiled the new terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airpport (MMIA), Lagos yesterday.
The President said despite the lean resources at the disposal of the administration, specially in its first tenure, it has sustained infrastructural projects it inherited, initiated new ones and because of the importance of having modern airport facilities, it has also completed the four new terminals at the four major airports in the country.
With the inauguration of the new international terminal in Lagos, the completed terminal at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, the four airport facilities started in 2013 by the Chinese and Nigerian collaboration would have come on stream.
“Our continuous investment in the building of long lasting infrastructure in the aviation, road and rail transportation, agriculture, telecommunications and other critical sectors is yielding massive results, and the people of Nigeria are now increasingly attesting to benefiting from the associated dividends.
“Starting from the year 2015 when we commenced our first tenure in office as a government, we have been deliberate and consistent in identifying and investing in critical projects that would improve the standard of living of our people, as well as contribute immensely to our growth and development as a nation,” the President said.
He noted that Despite obvious limitations in terms of availability of resources, our investments in inter-state rail connectivity, road networks, agriculture, power and telecommunications, just to mention a few, have been unprecedented.
President Buhari said taking cognizance of the importance of airport infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth, enhancement of foreign direct investment and development globally, his administration decided to prioritise the completion and delivery of five brand new international terminals, which were at 11% completion level when we came into power in 2015.
“Government is responding by further investments and partnerships in the sector to tend to this challenge. Consequently, the Minister of Aviation has been directed to fast track the airport concession programme. Similarly, the Abuja second runway is being fast tracked. The Minister of FB&NP has been directed to source special funding for the project while the MFCT is directed to conclude the titling of the approved 12,000 hectares of land to accommodate the runway and other developmental projects,” he said.
In his speech, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to release the $283 million blocked funds for foreign airlines and subsequently pay them as they earn their revenue so that there would no more be blocked funds in Nigeria.
Sirika also urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to import aviation fuel (Jet A-1) in large qualities to overcome the current scarcity and urged CBN to make forex available to major marketers to import the product.
Sirika also called for the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions to enhance seamless air travel, which is a catalyst to the development of any country.
“Mr. President is aware of the recent chaos in the sector caused by lack of Jet-A. Flights are unduly delayed and/or cancelled unpleasantly. While apologizing to our teaming passengers, I wish to use this medium to humbly request Mr. President to direct NNPC to import Jet-Al in good quantities and devise means to sustain supply as well as directing CBN to allocate Forex for the major marketers to sustain supply,” he said.
The Minister assured that the airport concession project (including the newly commissioned terminals) has reached advanced stage and promised that the Ministry would be issuing Request for Proposal (RFP) to the shortlisted firms before the end of March.
“We expect to announce a partner in 2nd Quarter 2022 and handover by 4th Quarter 2022,” he said.
On the new terminal he said, “This terminal you are about to commission has the capacity to process 14 million passengers per annum. There are 66Nos. check-in counters, 5Nos. baggage collection carousels, 16Nos. Immigration Desks at Arrival, 28 Nos. Desks at Departure, 8Nos. Security Screening Points, 6Nos. passenger boarding bridges with remote boarding and arrival. Other facilities include 2Nos. food courts, 4Nos. premium lounges, 22Nos. guest rooms and Spars, 16Nos, airline ticketing offices, visa on arrival and port health facility, praying areas, more than 3,000sqm duty free spaces and over 5,000sqm let-table utility spaces.”
The highlight of the event was the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Lagos state government for the construction of access roads linking the airport from Ikotun, Sasha and Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, signed on behalf of the state government, while FAAN Managing Director, Captain Hamisu Yadudu signed on behalf of the agency.
