In the midst of the contentious debate surrounding airport concessions, specialists have maintained differing opinions regarding how to approach the concession of federally managed airports. During ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the topic of concession became highly contentious.
At the end of the administration, former Aviation Minister Senator Hadi Sirika announced the concession of Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) and Kano’s Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).
But this did not go beyond the announcement as the Bola Tinubu-led succeeding government reversed the decision.
However, talks are ongoing over concession. The controversy recently emerged over the purported concession of Enugu Airport for 80 years to a certain company.
The aviation minister later debunked the claim, saying no fixed period has been agreed on concerning the concession of any airport.
We can confirm that this review process has not been concluded. However, for the sake of transparency, the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, directed some months ago, that the aviation labour unions be included as part of the negotiating teams.
“Therefore, we must state unequivocally that the information suggesting a predetermined concession duration is false, unfounded, and intended to cause unwarranted disaffection and mistrust in this process by those with entrenched interests,” Tunde Moshood, the minister’s spokesman, said.
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