Page 23 - STAT November 2022 for Magzter

though there are still scant core facilities airports in Nigeria are
for passenger and cargo facilitation, 13
aircraft handling, among others. In fact, no designed as cargo airports
Nigerian airport has an efficient transfer
facility capable of positioning Nigeria as a 01 MMIA Lagos 06 Margarette Ekpo, Calabar 11 Ilorin Airport
key hub in the region.
02 NAIA Abuja 07 AIIA, Enugu 12 Yola Airport
NEW AIRPORTS 03 MAKIA, Kano 08 Makurdi Airport 13 Kebbi Airport
CONCESSION EFFORTS
Given long-running outcry over the poor 04 SMICA, Owerri 09 Minna Airport
airports infrastructure in Nigeria, the
Ministry of Aviation has taken new steps 05 PHIA, Omagwa 10 Jos Airport
to introduce private sector investment in
some major airports in Nigeria.
Hadi Sirika, Nigeria’s Minister of
Aviation, recently revealed that the
Request for Proposals (RFP) phase of the
Nigeria Airports Concession Programme
(NACP), which ended September 2022 saw
the emergence of Corporation America
Airports Consortium as preferred bidder
for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport (NAIA), Abuja; while ENL Source: Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
Consortium was selected as the reserve It could equally be a sign that Nigerian Currently, less than five percent of
bidder for the airport. airports – as represented by Port Harcourt Nigeria’s 200 million population uses air
According to Sirika, for Murtala Airport - are not perceived, marketed transport, going by the annual domestic
Muhammed International Airport or positioned to attract investors. In this traffic figure of about 11 million, many of
(MMIA), Lagos, TAV/NAHCO/Project current state-of-affairs, there may not be whom are repeat passengers. While about
Planet Limited (PPL) Consortium prospect of dependable investors in about 70 percent of the population is below the
emerged the preferred bidder; while 20 other airports in Nigeria. poverty line, this indicates that Nigeria’s
Sifax/Changi Consortium became the There have also been misgivings supposedly large population is but a
reserve bidder for MMIA. over the current airport concession mere potential yet to be converted to any
For Mallam Aminu Kano International efforts, which some analysts interpret aviation benefit for airport investors.
Airport (MAKIA) in Kano, Corporation as a political ego-trip. Others believe Thus, in addition to embracing private
America Airports Consortium emerged the concession may go the way of sector investment, Nigeria must exit from
the preferred bidder; while no reserve previous concessions skewed by its current heavy import-dependence and
bidder was selected for the airport so far. unscrupulous government officials to become a production-driven and export-
The concession process is expected to be favour concessionaires for personal gains, based economy by providing essential energy
concluded before 2022 ends. and may risk revoking by subsequent and infrastructure, and drastically reducing
administrations if found unacceptable. cost of doing business. Making Nigeria a
NO BIDDER FOR PORT production-based commercial hub would
HARCOURT AIRPORT HOW WILL NIGERIA’S provide the critical mass of air cargo to feed
Interestingly, however, one of Nigeria’s AIRPORTS DEVELOP? over 13 cargo airports in Nigeria.
most active international and domestic Private sector investors are the best Overtime, this will also economically
airports, Port Harcourt Airport, had no choice to transform Nigerian airports empower millions to use air transport
bidder, even as the airport receives large with facilities including airport rail and as a means of movement for business
international carriers like Air France. aerotropolis, which the government has or pleasure, thus releasing more active
This could be indicating that investors hinted at providing at the Lagos Airport. air travellers into the market from the
are interested in Nigerian airports already The Abuja Airport already has a metro current non-flying population of over
positioned to make revenue - the Murtala rail line connecting the city, and many 150million people.
Muhammed Airport is located in West other airports need multimodal transport Most importantly, with transparency
Africa’s biggest commercial city of Lagos; facilities to move cargo and passengers from government and the private sector,
the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport from remote locations. Nigerian airports can be positioned to serve
is the closest air gateway to Nigeria’s political However, businesses essentially reflect small and large economic communities, and
capital, Abuja; while the Mallam Aminu the economies they operate in; and Nigeria’s equipped with facilities to handle economic
Kano International Airport is located in ailing economy continues to make a huge activities such as tourism, agriculture,
Kano, an ancient and modern commercial impact on business in the country including government and business travellers in the
city and gateway to Northern Nigeria. airports and aviation businesses. regions they serve.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2022 LUA 21