Ime Akpan
The minister of aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, has led a buy-in team of aviation agencies, union executives opposed to concession and ministry officials on an inspection tour of two successfully ‘concessioned’ airports in Instanbul, Turkey and Brasília, Brazil.
Spokesman for the minister, Mr. James Odaudu, said in a statement that the all-inclusive trip was “part of efforts to ensure transparency, inclusiveness, demonstrate sincerity in the Airport concession programme and choose the right model.”
The team that visited the airports in the two countries with the minister included the rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria, Capt Alkali Modibbo, acting managing director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Matthew Pwajok, and transaction adviser on airport concession, Dr Abba Ibrahim.
The others were the director general, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Michael Ohiani, senior technical assistant to the minister, Mr. Yusuf Anas, and special assistant to the minister on administration, Mr. Ahmed Sanusi.
On the side of aviation unions were the secretary general, Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Mr. Saidu Abdulrazak, general secretary, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Mr. Ocheme Abah, and one Ms Adenike Adesola of CSS.
Odaudu quoted the minister as saying that the essence of the visit to the two airports was to dispel all doubts and suspicion regarding the sincerity of the federal government in respect of the concession programme and to reassure the labour force of the inherent benefits of the programme.
He further said the choice of the two airports was based on their popularity, size and their success stories in concession which, according to him, would serve as a guide on the concession model and contribute to the successful delivery of the programme.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that the principles of transparency and accountability which have been the hallmark of the process from inception will remain till the final delivery of the project.
The statement added that at the two airports, the visiting team was presented with visuals of their transition and positive impact of their concession.
