The federal government is set to appoint transaction advisers as the procurement processes for the proposed national carrier and airport concession have reached advanced stages.
The minister of state for aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, disclosed this in Abuja today when he received a delegation from the International Enterprise Singapore led by its Director, Middle East and Africa Group, Ian Lee.
Sirika said the resolve to concession the maintenance of airport infrastructure and build new ones across the country “is to maintain high standard and efficiency in the running of airport operations in tandem with global standards.”
He said government “is committed to providing an enabling environment for investors to thrive in the aviation sector with rules and regulations to make the industry economically attractive.
He added that the government had made concerted efforts to improve security in the country with the virtual defeat of the Boko Haram insurgents terrorized the nation in the immediate past.
While reiterating the position of Nigeria in the African sub region, especially in the aviation sector and considering its size and geographical location as it concerns investments, Sirika said “these factors guarantee more than adequate returns on investments overtime.”
The minister appreciated the Singaporean company and some other ones for showing interest in the country’s aviation sector and assured them of the federal government’s openness and preparedness to work with all serious minded and sincere investors who have the know-how to contribute to Nigeria’s development.
On the rationale behind the decision to temporarily shut down operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for repair works on the airport runway, the minister explained to the visiting firm that “it is purely based on safety considerations.”
He also explained that while the whole renovation work would last for six months, the six-week closure would enable the restoration of the runway to a usable state.
Earlier, Lee had said they were in the country to establish their interest in building business relationships with Nigeria and Nigerian companies, especially in the aviation sector where they (the company) had identified the on-going airport infrastructure concession and the proposed national carrier as areas of high interest.
“The main purpose of IE Singapore is to drive Singapore’s external economy, by growing globally competitive companies and promoting international trade to ensure Singapore’s growth in a globalized world.
“With 39 offices in over 20 countries, in addition to being based in Singapore, IE Singapore offers services to help enterprises export, develop business capabilities, find overseas markets and enter new markets, through its global company partnership and market readiness assistance frameworks.
Nigeria, according to Lee “represents the future of the African continent going by its political and economic stature which has placed it in the leadership position it now occupies.”
