Nigeria progresses with airports concession drive, requests proposals

By Sade Williams/Business a.m.

Nigeria appears to be making progress with what should turn out as an elaborate international concession programme for some of its major airports. It has now announced, through the Ministry of Aviation, that following extant requirements contained in the country’s Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (establishment, etc.) Act, 2005, and global best practice, the concession programme has advanced to the Request for Proposals (RfP) phase of the programme, and that shortlisted bidders have since June 1, 2022 been notified in writing and via the transaction portal.

James Odaudu, special assistant on public affairs to the minister of aviation, said the RfP stage of the programme will close on the 5th of September 2022, adding that shortlisted bidders are encouraged to ensure that they make their submissions in a timely manner and as per the detailed guidelines included in the bidders’ package.

Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, expressed his confidence in driving a transparent and robust concession programme to competition before the end of the year when he spoke to the media on the matter.

“We are delighted to inform all stakeholders and indeed, all Nigerians, that a critical milestone in this programme has now been reached. We anticipate that the programme, including the final negotiations stage, will be concluded before the end of the year, thereby allowing for the affected assets to be handed over to the absolute best private sector operators well before this administration hands over to a new, duly elected government.”

The bidders conference, hosted by the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission – the substantive regulator for all infrastructure concessions in Nigeria, took place on the 20th of June 2022 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, marking a critical milestone in the process of concessioning Nigeria’s four international airports and associated assets, comprising specifically of passenger and cargo terminals.

Delegates of preferred bidders flew into Nigeria from no fewer than four countries, with the majority joining online via the NACP’s virtual conferencing facility.

Speaking at the event, Abel Enitan, permanent secretary, Ministry of Aviation added, “We are delighted to see this level of genuine interest in Nigeria’s infrastructure concession programmes and in particular this airports concession programme. As the global aviation industry recovers, this level of interest Nigeria enjoys from emerging market investors, is testament to the sheer scale of opportunity Nigeria offers long-term investors who share a positive vision of the nation’s future. We wish all bidders well as they conduct their own due diligence and prepare competitive bids for the various assets.”