N61.2b Abuja airport terminal ready in five weeks- Sirika
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The minister of state for Aviation, Hadi Sirika has said the new terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport(NAIA) Abuja would be ready for use in five weeks.
The N61.billion terminal construction work is being undertaken by Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC).
Speaking at the fifth Aviation Stakeholders’ Forum in Abuja on Thursday, Sirika said NAIA will be commissioned in the next five weeks, while Enugu and Kano are at advanced stages of completion.
He said the new terminal is being linked with the FCT rail corridor for almost efficiency and effectiveness. “The terminal is linked with the railway so that passengers can easily move in and out of the airport without such difficulties “.
While highlighting some of the achievements of the Aviation ministry in past three years Sirika stated that “on assumption of duty in November 2015, an appraisal of the sector was done and we discovered challenges raging from poor infrastructure to poor workforce and poor funding and we developed an Aviation Road map to help solve this issues”
While highlighting some of the achievements of the Aviation ministry in past three years Sirika stated that “on assumption of duty in November 2015, an appraisal of the sector was done and we discovered challenges raging from poor infrastructure to poor workforce and poor funding and we developed an Aviation Road map to help solve this issues”
The Road map he said bothers on “concession of four major airports, establishment of a national carrier, development of Agro-Allied/cargo terminals, establishment of maintenance, repairs and overhaul (MRO) centers, establishment of an Aviation leasing company ” amongst others to effectively reposition the industry.
“The ministry has recorded significant achievements in virtually all aspects of the sector in the past three years. Growing and sustaining the domestic aviation industry, re introduction of zero import duties on aircraft, engine and introduction of same for repairs “.
Sirika said the ministry has “provided enabling environment for domestic airlines in the country to attain certification in IATA operational Safety Audit, currently five Nigerian domestic airlines has been certified “.
“Nigeria also recorded 96.45% in ICAO universal security audit, in the area of state safety programme, Nigeria has attained level 3 out of 4 level thereby moving Nigeria from red to green on the ICAO dashboard “.
He stated that the present administration was committed to ensuring that practices in the aviation sector in the country are carried out in conformity with international best practices.
Stella Enenche Abuja