Sirika takes 12,000 ha, kicks off Aviation Roadmap projects

By Sade Williams/Business a.m.

Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation took delivery of the certificate of occupancy (C of O) for 12,000 hectares of land from Muhammed Musa Bello, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, an essential component for the realisation of the aviation roadmap projects of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Mohammed Kabiru Shehu, director, planning, research and statistics, Federal Ministry of Aviation, who represented the minister, said one of the key projects to be executed on the land is the second runway project for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The second runway project was awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Nigeria Limited (CCECC) and the site was handed over to the company.

Other projects that would be executed as part of the aviation roadmap include: Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Centre; Aviation Leasing Company (ALC); Agro-Allied Cargo Terminals; Aerotropolis or Airport City; National Carrier; Africa Aerospace and Aviation University (AAAU), amongst others.

Some of the benefits that would accrue to Nigeria at the completion of the projects are: employment opportunities for Nigerians; enhanced transfer of technology; increase in foreign exchange earnings/increase in GDP contribution; backward integration of aircraft maintenance and repair facilities for both domestic and international carriers; improvement in Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria; reduction in capital flight; increase in Bilateral Air Services Agreements with other countries, amongst others.

Present at the hand-over ceremony were Rabiu Yadudu, managing director and chief executive, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who was represented by Honorius Anozie, director, human resources; C.Awogbami, acting director, aerodrome development, Ministry of Aviation; Shehu Ahmad, team lead, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA); among others.