The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a total sum of N919,102,796,996 for projects in Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and the Obafemi Awolowo International Airport, Port-Harcourt.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who also told newsmen after the Thursday Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, that the government has okayed the concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu to the private sector.
The Minister said the projects in the three major airports would be funded from the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund.
Detailing the contracts, Keyamo said the Council approved the rehabilitation, upgrade and modernization of the Lagos Airport for the sum of N712,258,565,482.18.
“We have decided to strip it down for total rehabilitation. So this is not the patchwork we used to do before, where we just do some patchwork of sections and all of that. The total rehabilitation would mean just for transparency, to let the public know that we are going to strip it down to only the carcass, and then do the complete M and E again, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, everything to have a brand new airport in Lagos, solely funded by the renewed hope infrastructure development fund,” he said.
The contract was awarded to the CCECC with a mandate to deliver in 22 months.
Another project awarded for the Lagos Airport for a sum of N49,899,681,901.44, was “the construction of 14.6 kilometer security metal fence, operational Road, installation of CCTV cameras, intruder detection systems, illumination With solar flood lights.” The project is to be completed within 24 months.
The Council also approves the contract for “the rehabilitation of runway 18 left and 36 right, section of taxiway B and C, with upgrade of airfield ground lighting and System runway of 18 left, 36 right. CAT 2 LED at Murtala Muhammad Airport Lagos. So, that is actually also upgrading the landing system at our major gateway in Nigeria, Lagos. That is of N44,134,285,954.11 and that is for 30 weeks.”
The “reconstruction and conversion of Apron phase 1, and that is 32,100 square meters. Phase 2, 34,087.5 square meters and phase 3, 16,200, meters to rigid pavement, at domestic wing of Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, that’s Domestic, not international wing” was approved for the sum of N24,274,544,888. 91.
Keyamo added that the rehabilitation of 0624, 0523 Runways and Taxiways with upgrade of Airfield Ground Lighting System at the Kano Airport was approved for NN46,392,
454,624.04 and was to be completed in 24 weeks.
He also disclosed that the rehabilitation of Runway 0321, and Taxiway with upgrade of Airfield Ground Lighting System to CAT 2 at Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport In Port Harcourt was awarded for N42,143,264,117. 84. This, ge said, would go simultaneously with the reconstruction of the old terminal building.
The Minister said that the government had an unsolicited proposal for the concession of the Akanu ibiam International Airport which the Council approved.
According to him, most of the airports in the country, apart from the major ones, were unprofitable. He said concession of the non-aeronautical section of the airports have always been considered to enable government earn revenues from them.
“So we are starting with Enugu today, we approved the business case for the concession of Enugu airport and also the cargo terminal facility too. You know, Enugu airport has an unfinished, an uncompleted, Cargo terminal facility there, and that has also been then concessioned out.
“The devil will still be in the details, because, you know, after FEC, you now sit down and then, of course, finalize all the little, little details in the agreement, and that, of course, at the right time we are going to make public, but that’s for 30 years.
“Just to let you know, the concession is for 30 years, a 30 year concession period.
“Other details as we work them out, we are going to jointly address Nigerians to make it very transparent, those in the consortium, their capacities, and everything Nigerians will know and what each of them they have, we are going to make it very transparent and public at the time, and we carry the unions along,” Keyamo said.
