The Federal Government reiterated its resolve to concession major international airports in the country to ensure they are run efficiently and profitably.

However, this does not imply ceding its assets entirely to the private sector as the designated airports would be handed to the concessionaire for a maximum of 30 years.

Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika disclosed this on Friday during the Grand opening of the Legend Hotel Lagos Airport Curio Collection by Hilton where he disclosed that the new terminals in Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Port Harcourt International Airport would be opened by the end of October this year.

The opening of the state of the art Hotel which had the President of Hilton Worldwide, Christopher Nasette in attendance also attracted the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Managing Director of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, Chairman of Oando, Mr. Wale Tinubu, among others.

Dangote who hailed the aesthetics and the architectural masterpiece of the new Hotel located within the premises of private terminal facility of Quits Aviation challenged the Federal Government to replicate such structures at all the nation’s international airports.

But the Minister in his response said the Federal Government would spend huge sum of money in improving infrastructures at the airports especially the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, adding that two of the newly constructed terminals (Abuja and Port Harcourt funded by the China Exim Bank would be opened for operations by the end of October, adding that the two others in Lagos and Kano would follow suit.

Sirika said while many Nigerians have taken to the social media celebrating the new terminal in Kotoka International Airport, Ghana, the facility is a child’s play compared to the new terminals to be commissioned in Nigeria soon.

The Minister, however, disclosed that the terminals would be concessioned for a period of 25-30 years to enable the private sector run them profitably while providing first-class services to Nigerian air travellers and foreigners.

The Minister lauded the CEO of Quits Aviation, Mr. Sam Iwuajoku for bringing the Hilton brand to Nigeria and assured him and potential investors of government’s support, saying Nigeria is the best place to be for investments as the rate of return has been discovered to be 24 per cent.

He said, “This (The Hotel) is unique not only because it is 10 steps to aircraft but because there is nothing like this in the continent of Africa and I believe this is the beginning of the journey of the investments of private sector into aviation to achieve the kind of aviation that we need in this country.

•Sourced from Daily Trust.

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