By Kelvin Osa Okunbor
Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI) has cautioned the Federal government to ensure that processes leading to the concsessioning of airports in the country are transparently conducted.
While the group acknowledged the necessity for government to concession airport terminals in order to reduce financial burden for airports infrastructure development and management, it noted that the concession of the terminals should not just be a departure from the status quo but that the procedure should pursue an objective aimed at driving regional competitive hubs as well as mega carriers that will operate in those hubs.
In a communique issued at the end of the webinar session organized by Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative, with the theme :” Nigerian airports concession: How far, So far “, participants enjoined the Ministry of Aviation to ensure that the terminal concession process is transparently conducted in compliance with the extant laws .
They urged the Ministry of Aviation to think through the process to avoid post-agreement controversies and rancour as previously experienced in the sector.
They urged Government to avoid pitfalls of the past in its current concession plan of all 22 airport terminals controlled by the Federal Airporys Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Industry experts therefore, urged the government to define and clarify what is to be concessioned within the airport.
The Communique signed by Mr Olumide OHUNAYO for the round table reads: “All existing legal, labour, and other complications arising from previous experiments Nigeria Airways, NAHCO, should be conclusively resolved. Therefore, there is need for government to allay the fears of the unions and employees of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) with regards to the planned concession. The process must be fair and transparent.
” The controversies surrounding the various concession agreements between FAAN and
AIC Limited, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, Maevis Ltd., Toll Plaza Operator and all other such agreements should be resolved as soon as possible by parties involved before moving on to sign new concession agreements in order not to discourage prospective investors.”
It also recommended that the concession be done with the objectives of protecting users’ interest through the provision of innovative and quality services by service providers as well as leveraging private sector funds amenable to modern technologies as well as the need to provide improved infrastructure comparable to global standards.
It was further recommended that Government should have minimal participation in airport’s terminal management and infrastructure development but should concern itself primarily with aeronautical services and regulatory interventions and oversight.
The webinar also recommended that the proposal for a connected rail system designed
to ensure interoperability of the domestic and international terminals at the MMIA, Lagos be revisited to enhance passenger facilitation and air cargo management.
“The modest successes recorded in terminal infrastructure and services at the MMA2
should be improved upon and adopted as a strategy for development of other terminals
in the country.
“There is need for aviation authorities in Nigeria to understudy successful models of
terminal commercialisation and operation in other climes to gain deeper understanding
of airport concession and management to minimise controversies associated with such.”
Leave a Reply