Abuja Airport To Be Closed Down - Minister of Aviation

  

The Minister of State, for Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, on Monday threatened to shut down flight operations into and out of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja ,because of dilapidated infrastructure that could compromise safety.


He said the several pot holes on the runway almost made him to close the airport, urging that that the airport will be closed down until the necessary things are put in place. He did not however say when the closure will be carried out.

The minister, who made the disclosure at a meeting with stakeholders in the industry in Abuja, showed clips of the dilapidated infrastructure at the airport, and said the focus of his administration is to ensure total safety and security.

On the concessioning of the airports, he said arrangement had been concluded to concession the Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt in the first instance, adding that government does not have the wherewithdal to continue to run the airports.

He said: 

“I have had a tough time explaining and debating at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings and on the streets to make a case for aviation. I have discovered that we simply do not have the money.

He said government will bring to an attractive level that will be self-sustaining for the private investors that are buying into it, adding that it is a good market for investors and therefore government should concession them to make money out of them.

“We need to get those investors that know that Nigeria is about 170 million and that they can create a hub of the country and they can put their money in it.” he said.

Sirika said following government’s approval, transaction advisers will soon be set up for the establishment of a national carrier, adding that it will also be private sector-driven.