The Nation Newspaper

Tag: master plan

  • ‘We ‘ll deliver on state infrastructure master plan’

    The incoming administration in Lagos State to be led by Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu    has pledged to make use of the existing state infrastructure master plan.

    The state’s Deputy Governor-elect, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, made the disclosure while addressing Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA), Lagos chapter in Lagos.

    It was at the association’s 19th edition of her public lecture/luncheon, where Hamzat was the guest speaker.

    Hamzat, whose lecture generated series of responses from the audience, spoke on: Human Development, Energy and Enabling Infrastructure – Imperatives for Sustainable Economic Growth and Inclusive National Development.

    While Mr. Kolawole Ayanwale, Chief Executive Officer, Centrespread Advertising Limited chaired the occasion, Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman, Alhaji Abdulkabir and Mr. Ayodeji Balogun, Country Manager, AFEX Nigeria Limited were the panelists at the event.

    Hamzat, whose lecture was spiced with live stories of his experiences both in private and public services over the years, said their administration, would tackle traffic management and transportation, health and environment as well as education and technology.

    Also, he said  there are plans towards making Lagos a 21st century economy, boost entertainment, tourism, sport sector as well as  boost the state’s security architecture.

    To achieve all these, Hamzat said, there was need for solid foundation, which he gave as infrastructure.

    The Deputy Governor-elect added that the in-coming administration  would not be able to achieve any of their goals without concrete infrastructure, assuring that they would build on existing plans.

    “Accordingly, as far as infrastructure expansion is concerned, there is already a Lagos Master plan in place. I was part of the State Exco, when it was implemented by Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and also as Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure under Babatunde Fashola.

    “In the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to a Greater Lagos, we will not need to reinvent the wheel but rather just build on the good work of our predecessors.”

    Hamzat added: “It is a blueprint that has demonstrably worked when you note, for example, that the Lagos State Government has created over half a million jobs in the state through infrastructure development and renewal alone.”

    He said Lagos infrastructure growth is strategic and not happenstance; adding that, Nigeria would definitely become a global economic player, and with the massive economic activities with natural endowments in the state, Lagos State is key to that growth.

    However, Hamzat said the path to having a safer and greater Lagos was not only dependent on the government alone, saying the citizens have much role to play.

    “The only thing that I will add in closing is to proffer an old maxim of mine: good governance does not begin and end with good government.  If we can all agree that we want to live in a greater Lagos, then each and every single one of us has his or her own part to play.

    “We need to make a collective decision to be the change that we want.  We cannot move to the next level without taking that first step.  We cannot seek a greater Lagos when we choose to be less than great in our own personal lives.”

    He assured:  “Our administration will make that commitment to a better life and we ask all well-meaning Nigerians to join us on this exciting journey.”

    Earlier, UNIFEMGA chairman, Goke Adeyemi explained that the group chose the theme of the lecture to address the huge deficits in the areas of human development, energy and enabling infrastructure in Nigeria.

    He added that that, there was no gainsaying the fact that investing in sustainable and enabling infrastructure was key to tackling the three central challenges facing the Nigerian communities.

  • Master plan alien to most cities

    The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has said most cities  do not have a master plan while those that have are yet to take steps to implement them.

    President of the institute, Lekwa Ezutah, made this known in Abuja at a media chat.

    He maintained that “only Abuja and Owerri have comprehensive master plans that have been fully implemented while some cities have master plan, but was neither been implemented nor reviewed.

    Ezutah also lamented the inability of the Federal Government to implement the requirements of the Urban and Regional Planning Law and regretted that since 1992, the law that provides for an Urban and Regional Planning Commission at the Federal level, planning boards at the state level and planning authorities at the local government has not been implemented in the last 27 years.

    He said: “This is why the focus of the institute under my leadership is creating awareness to policy makers and the public on the importance of town planning at all levels to ensure that professionals are engaged at all levels to reduce the cases of building collapse and irregular physical planning.”

    The NITP president further reiterated the institute’s commitment in ensuring that development control takes center stage in Nigeria, lamenting that it has been lacking in the country for so many years.

  • Lagos develops master plan to tackle water shortage

    Lagos develops master plan to tackle water shortage

    Lagos State government is taking drastic steps to solve the problem of water shortage in the state. A statement signed by the Head of Corporate Communication, Lagos Water Corporation, Akinmuleya Oluwaferanmi, revealed that the state has developed the Lagos Water Supply Master Plan (2010 – 2020) as a roadmap to tackle the challenge of water production and supply.

    According to him, Lagos, a resilient state and the commercial hub of Africa, with the population of over 22 million people, is pressured by the situation and the government under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is continuously putting in place various strategies to tackle the challenge of water scarcity anywhere in the state even before it arises.

    These, he said, include the development of the Igbonla Water Scheme Phase 1 expected to serve Epe, Eti-Osa, Ikoyi, Ibeju Lekki, Victoria Island and Lagos Island. The second phase of this project is also projected to produce 110 MGD, with a distribution network of 500km. “Considering these efforts put in place by the state, water shortage in Lagos State is well on its way out,” he concluded.

     

  • NDDC to monarchs: embrace Niger Delta master-plan

    Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has urged traditional rulers in the Southsouth to embrace the master-plan of the Niger Delta.

    NDDC Chairman Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba spoke when he received a delegation of the Southsouth Monarchs Forum, led by King Edmund Daukoru, the Amayanabo of Nembe, in Port Harcourt.

    A statement by Mr. Ibitoye Abosede, director, Corporate Affairs, said the chairman decried the abandonment of the master-plan shortly after it was launched in 2007.

    “We must return to the master-plan. We have to agree on whether to terminate the present master-plan, update it or upgrade it. We need the traditional institution to play a role in this process,” he said.

    Ndoma-Egba said a comprehensive plan was necessary for development and progress.

    He said NDDC was collaborating with states as partners, rather than alternatives or competitors, for the development of the region.

    According to the chairman, the region needs to be united ito achieve peace and development.

    He added: “There is no doubt that the Southsouth has to speak with one voice. This is why engagements of this nature are important, because it will help us find a common ground.

    “It will help us synchronise our thoughts and ideas so that whenever and wherever we speak as leaders of Southsouth, whether as traditional rulers or political leaders, we speak with one voice.

    “I believe the reality on the ground is that the traditional institution plays a role in ensuring peace, mobilising for development, providing a forum for dialogue, or providing a framework for furthering an action with others in this country.”

    Daukoru said the landscape of the Niger Delta was dotted with “fruits from the commission.”

    “We are ready to partner NDDC and give you the encouragement you need. We are hoping that we will see a bit more of you in terms of outreach through us to the grassroots people.

    “We want to act as a channel and an advocacy institution for you so that through us, you will be able to communicate to the people whatever opportunities are open that they can participate more effectively.”

    Daukoru, a former minister of Petroleum, decried the past neglect of the Niger Delta, stressing that monarchs are the “missing ingredients” to galvanise development in the region.

  • Ajimobi: Ibadan drainage, solid waste master plan underway

    Ajimobi: Ibadan drainage, solid waste master plan underway

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said his administration will end flooding, occasioned by haphazard erection of structures in Ibadan, the state capital.

    The governor spoke when he received the final draft of 20-year Ibadan City Master Plan from representatives of Design and Architecture Bureau Consulting Engineers, led by the Project Manager, Mr Yann Leclerq.

    The city master plan, which covers the original 11 local government areas in Ibadan, assesses the state’s natural environment, history of flooding, transport, infrastructure, housing and population, among others.

    It is the first in the history of the state.

    Ajimobi said plans were underway to also develop the city’s drainage and solid waste master plans to enhance infrastructural development and future expansion of Ibadan.

    The governor said a lack of master plans contributed to the vulnerability of the city to natural disasters, such as the flooding of August 26, 2011.

    He said designated routes for intra and inter-city rail system would be incorporated into the final document to take advantage of the existing Lagos-Ibadan rail line.

    Ajimobi added: “I will also want the consultants to incorporate how we can cope with and improve on the existing structures and settlements. It will give us legitimacy to remove illegal structures on flood plains.

    “I know the implementation may pose some challenges, but let us see. We are determined to give Ibadan a facelift that will make it very friendly and attractive to investors and even residents.

    “In making recommendations on street trading, emphasis should be on enforcement. But, at the same time, you have to take into consideration our culture and peculiarities. For instance, can we have trading axis and neighbourhood markets incorporated in the master plan?”

     

     

     

  • Nigeria needs $10b yearly to achieve Gas Master Plan’s goals

    To achieve the objectives set out in the Nigerian Gas Master Plan, at least $10 billion yearly investment is required over two to four years period, the President of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) Dada Thomas, has said.

    The NGA President, who is also the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Frontier Oil Limited, said such investment would create job opportunities for local line pipe manufacturing plants, construction companies and pipeline operators and an annual income of about $0.75 billion.

    Dada, who was highlighting the potentials of natural gas and the need to support its exploitation in-country, noted that the domestic gas (domgas) market has grown over the years, but only 13 per cent or 1.01 billion cubic feet (bcf) of total gas production of 7.5 bcf per day is consumed locally while 43 per cent is exported via liquefied natural gas (LNG) and West African Gas Pipeline, 34 per cent used for gas injection and 10 per cent flared.

    He said: “The growth in production came about largely by encouragement followed by compulsion. The end result is that Nigeria is only ranked 22nd in production of gas in the world, and we found ourselves in a perfect storm sitting in darkness generating less than five gigawatts (Gw) of grid power while flaring enough gas to generate two to three gigawatts of electricity and power plants are starved of gas. We have only two gas based industries (GBI) and barely any gas transportation infrastructure.

    “The bulk of our domgas is consumed by power plants within an illiquid and poorly regulated gas-to-power value chain that is threatening to cause systemic bankruptcy of all parts of the value chain and possibly the banking sector. We, therefore, have to conclude that we haven’t properly exploited our gas resources for domestic use for the benefit of our nation or our people and those brave enough to invest in our country’s development.

    “Looking to the future, the forecast demand for gas is ambitious with a target of eight bcf/d to 10 bcf/d in the long term, the bulk (about 60 per cent) of which is planned to be used for power generation. Given the relatively poor performance so far in developing the domgas sector over the years, how then do we propose to achieve these ambitious targets given the various impediments and issues that have bedeviled and continue to plague the domestic gas industry?”

    Speaking further on the subject entitled: Domestic gas utilisation in Nigeria : from producers to users, Thomas said no domgas market can exist without the upstream sector consisting of the oil and gas companies that explore, develop and produce the gas from reservoir to the wellhead delivering it to the gas treatment plant inlet gate.

    “These companies have to rise up to the challenge of ramping up domgas production from the current level of 1.01bcf/d to the forecast level of 2.5bcf/d over the next five years. The Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) estimate that this will require initial investments of $6 billion annually over a period of four years dropping to $3 billion annually thereafter in new gas production, processing and transportation infrastructure. The gas requirement is significant and cannot be realised unless gas resources currently untapped are freed up and made available to those willing to develop them,” he added.

    To him, within the midstream sector, a number of new initiatives based on traditional gas treatment technologies are now being deployed in Nigeria and will help revolutionise the domgas industry. Citing examples, he noted that a 500 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) compressed natural gas (CNG) industry could sustain a $1billion per annum industry.

    “A 500mmscf/d micro/mini liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry could sustain a $1.6billion per annum industry,” adding that growing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption from 2kg/capita or 400 metric tonnes per annum to 12kg – 20kg/capita or three to five million metric tonnes per annum, could generate a $10 billion plus industry,” he added.

  • ‘Ibadan needs comprehensive master plan’

    A Director at the Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan(UI), Prof. Olanrewaju Olaniyan, has said Ibadan needs a comprehensive master plan for sustainable growth.

    He spoke yesterday at a lecture to commemorate the first year anniversary of the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, at Mapo Hall in Ibadan.

    Oba Adetunji, who is the 41st Olubadan, was installed on March 4, last year.

    Olaniyan, in his lecture, titled: “Sustainable Development of Ibadan: Past, Present and Future”, said many of the issues the city was facing emanated from lack of a comprehensive master plan.

    “There must be a master plan that is not just produced but also implemented religiously.

    “Unfortunately, whetheror not there is a plan, the city continues to grow,” he said.

    The don said the city’s population would ‘explode’, given the fertility rates and migration possibilities in the next 30 years.

    He said Ibadan leaders must move quickly to plan for affordable growth and provide basic services, adding that the city must continue to be inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

    “Incidentally, once a city is built, its physical form and land use patterns can be locked in for generations, leading to unsustainable sprawl. This should not be allowed to happen.

    “As we grow this city, we need to constantly remind ourselves whether our usage, exploitation and enjoyment of the resources of the city will not jeopardise the ability and capacity of future generations.”

    The don added that the sustainability of the future depended on how responsible we have lived today.

    Olaniyan said a sustainable development agenda required trade offs across three components, namely economic, social and environmental.

    Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources Isaac Ishola said Ibadan City master plan was75 per cent completed.

    “The master plan is all-involving. It is a document that takes care of the city and all human components.

    “When we talk of master plan, we are talking of the types of infrastructure we need, where we need them and how much do we need,” he said.

  • SEC woos NASS on Master Plan

    SEC woos NASS on Master Plan

    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has called on the National Assembly  to remove legal impediments hampering the implementation of the capital market master plan.

    Speaking at the stakeholders forum on realising the potentials of the Nigerian economy through proactive capital market legislation co-hosted by the Capital Market Committees of both the Senate and House of Representatives in Abuja, the Director General of the SEC  Munir Gwazo implored the National Assembly to play a critical role in tackling identified legal impediments to master plan.

    He said SEC is taking a proactive step to compile a comprehensive document detailing all of the amendments needed to make the Master Plan implementation a success.

    Gwarzo identified some of the impediments to include Jurisdictional conflict between the Inv estments and Securities  Tribunal and the Federal High Courts Specifically Section 274 of ISA which grants IST EXCLUSIVE jurisdiction over capital market disputes vs Section 251 (1p,q,r) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria which gives High Courts jurisdiction over executive or administrative actions of SEC. To address this impediment to the actualization of the master plan, Gwarzo appealed to the National Assembly to  Include  the  IST  under Section 6 (5) of the Constitution and craft “legislation to prescribe the adoption of “Reasonableness test” in conducting judicial review in contrast to the “Correctness Test” as well as make the IST a special Division of the Federal High Court.

  • Town planners to residents: honour master-plan

    Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been asked to respect the Abuja master-plan in order to prevent flooding in the capital city.

    Garba Kwamkur, chairman of the FCT chapter of Nigeria Institute of Town Planers (NITP) who made this known at the FCT 2015 Town Planners Week, said that residents tend to forget that Abuja is the only city in the country that was carved out, planned and built under the law.

    Kwamkur said residents of the FCT are expected to have a change of heart, so that they can build an Abuja of their dream that is comparable to any city in the world.

    “Abuja residents have to respect the master plan because it is something everyone can see online, or you go to AGIS to enquire the purpose of a particular land to know  if it is a green area,  residential or business area. Abuja is a different city, unlike Lagos and other cities,  that is why we must all stick to the details of the master plan. With that we can avoid any flood in the city and people will live happily.

    “We expect residents, both in the urban and rural area to key into the project of change by abiding with the rules and regulations of the master-plan. You have to seek the planning approval, start drawing before you start building your house,  instead of doing what some people do, having offer-letters  or even going to the Gbagyi chiefs to buy land and build.

    “So that we can have something like all these mass transit, the rail system and bus system. Everybody does not have to drive a car to the city. There are other ways and during this event,  we are trying to put it on the table,  so that the government will now know about this modern innovation and try to put them in place,” he said.

    The Chairman, Organising Committee, Mukhtar Galadima, also expressed the need to involve the stakeholders in all their activities during the planning process,  from the conception,  surveys,  decisions and implementation,  saying that this could be done through workshops,  charades and seminars to get the Peoples view.

    “Then, when that is done, you carry on with your surveys on the people again, make your findings about their needs and desires. Then you draw up your plans and bring it to the people again to know if they are okay with it and they will give you their opinion.

    “If you carry the people along in everything you are planning with them, it will make your planning very successful, because they are part of the process. As a professional, you should not assume that you know everything,” he said.

  • Experts: master plan crucial to aviation’s growth

    Experts: master plan crucial to aviation’s growth

    To aviation experts a master plan is what the industry requires to grow. Such a master plan, they argue, will drive policies, attract investments and create robust carriers, KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR, reports.

    IN the last few years, aviation has come under criticism – scandals and controversies over uncompleted airport projects. This is an indication that managers of the sector have been acting without a clear master plan.

    Former Minister of Aviation Chief Osita Chidoka last week observed that the growth of the aviation sector is stunted due absence of a robust master plan.

    Chidoka said putting in place such plan would form the architecture on which aviation policies would be driven for industry development.

    The former minister stated this while giving a scorecard of his tenure.

    He challenged industry players and operators to push for a road map that would give an indication of what to expect in the sector in terms of planning and investments in the short, medium and long terms.

    Chidoka’s observation has attracted comments from some industry players. Experts say a master plan is long overdue for aviation.

    The necessity of such plan it was learnt encouraged the former minister a few months ago to organize a forum tagged Aviation Business Forum in Lagos.

    Stakeholders utilized the forum to examine ways and means of moving the industry forward by recommending policies that would attract investments into the sector.

    The absence of such a master plan, some experts including, Mr Olu Ohunayo, head of strategy Zenith Travels and Sheri Kyari executive director Centre for Aviation Research and Safety argue, is responsible for the inconsistency in policy direction on some projects that have been designed for implementation since 1999 till date.

    The experts aligned their thoughts with Chidoka who said government should work hard to ensure such a working document is put in place.

    Other experts, including Captain Edward Boyo, managing director Landover Aviation Company and former Nigeria Airways spokesman, Mr. Chris Aligbe say the absence of a solid aviation master plan has impacted negatively on the growth of the aviation sector especially the airline sub sector.

    They said if a solid master plan is in place, issues affecting criteria for robust domestic carriers that could compete with foreign carriers and retain huge capital flight at home could easily be sorted out.

    With the high turnover of Aviation Ministers, in the last 16 years, they are worried that if there existed a sector master plan properly articulated, it would have driven the development of the industry.

    According to the national president of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Isaac Balami until a solid master plan is put in place the anticipated development and growth of the aviation sector may not be achieved.

    Balami said such a master plan will bring about policies that will drive the growth and sustenance of domestic carriers.

    Also speaking an airline operator said the aviation industry would have recorded more achievement if there is a master plan that would draw up on how to attract investment in the sector in a manner that would drive job creation.

    He cited absence of a master plan that guides how the airport authority for instance encourage domestic carriers secure land leases around airports nationwide to set up aircraft maintenance hangars.

    Such high turnover he said has occasioned inconsistency in policy and its implementation.

    Since 1999 till date, no fewer than 10 persons have been appointed as Aviation Ministers.

    This high turnover in the strategic sector, experts say, is the reason for its stunted growth.

    Speaking last week in Lagos while giving his scorecard, former Minister of Aviation Chief Osita Chidoka agreed with the experts affirming that  the slow development of aviation is due largely to  lack of a vibrant master plan and absence of institutional memory.

    He said the sector is beset with a myriad of challenges, including absence of a master plan which ought to provide a template upon which all issues bordering on airport development should revolve.

    Chidoka said the absence of a working document has brought about frequent changes and transfer of personnel, thus rendering the relevant units of the ministry ineffective.

    As an intervention, Chidoka said a procurement process for the development of a master plan for Nigerian airports has commenced.

    He said: “The ministry has moved from its policy and supervisory role to an implementing agency under the guise of airport remodelling,” adding that the staff pooling system of the Federal Civil Service, limits the ministry ‘s ability to build and maintain a group of  technical experts to manage the affairs of the civil aviation industry.

    Chidoka said the pooling system should be modified to accommodate technical expertise in critical areas, pointing out that the ministry’s staff strength Is skewed towards service areas as against technical aviation related areas.

    He said staffing needs to be readjusted to enable the ministry beef up the staff numbers in the technical aviation areas, stating that it is the organisation’s core focus.

    Chidoka said government should conclude on-going procurement of consultants for the master plan to address weak policy leadership.

    “‘Government should divest the ministry of all airport projects and return same to the implementing agencies.”

     

    Aviation Business  Forum

     

    Only a few months ago, the ministry organized a forum where top executives of aviation and allied services organizations met in Lagos to design industry led initiatives to stimulate sustainable growth for the sector.

    Experts at the forum observed that beyond world class airline operations and infrastructure, Nigeria needs to play a leading role in the West African economic integration that aims to remove the barriers to the movement of traffic, such as visa requirements and the rigorous Customs clearance.

    The forum according to Chidoka also resolved that: “Government should not run a national flag carrier airline and that private owned airlines should not run as a national flag carrier airline. The objective is to ensure that ownership structure that engenders corporate governance; accountability and transparency are adhered to.

    That a diversified ownership that reflects a combination of institutional investors, public investors and private ownership that has an interest in going public is a major requirement in becoming a national flag carrier.

    That there can be as many national flag carriers that meet the set criteria.

    That the national flag carrier will espouse certain inherent national values that align with the Nigerian brand. That national flag carrier must operate an effective model.

    That an economic stimulus for aviation will involve a package of financial incentives and support across the value chain.

    It will involve having a robust national aviation industry strategy framework that will impact on key areas.”

    The former minister said if the sector must move forward, there is need to implement the strategic master plan that will address issues bordering on aerodrome infrastructure and operation, airline operations and safety, airspace management as well as manpower development.

     

    Policy interventions

     

    Chidoka lamented the failure by previous ministers to address the recommendations of the 2006 Air Marshal Paul Dike’s Report, which highlighted the challenges of the aviation industry.

    The minister said if the Buhari administration implements the recommendations of the Dike Report, the aviation sector will be on the path to recovery.

    He listed other interventions: “There is need for broader policy intervention that should bring about the setting up of aviation corporate governance and enterprise risk framework to reduce the likelihood of aviation corporate failures arising from moral hazard.

    Additionally, Chidoka called for the creation of a more robust and conventional national/ flag carrier policy framework to develop a national aviation fleet that can rival the huge consolidated global players, as well a review of current intervention models and facilitate a more robust aviation financing framework.

    He urged the creation of a robust regional hub/ aviation city model that drives commercialization, stimulate volume of funding required to leapfrog the aviation industry into the future.

    Revenue Automation                  Project

    As a way of enhancing the revenue streams of aviation agencies and blocking leakages, a committee was set up by the ministry to monitor, data capturing, invoicing, payment settlement and reporting of all agencies.

    The aviation revenue automation project has been implemented in many airports including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano , Enugu and Calabar.

    Benin, Owerri, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Jos, Sokoto, Ilorin, Minna , Akure , Katsina, Ibadan airports are scheduled for the next phase of the project roll out.

    He said issues around project scope, fees and compliance were variously reviewed and mutually agreed among relevant stakeholders .”

    ICAO Audit / Security

    Though Nigeria has come under intense global scrutiny on account of the recurring incidents of stowaways at major airports efforts the former minister said are ongoing to improve on airport safety and security.

    He said preparations for the ICAO a Nigerian Aviation Security audit have witnessed remarkable improvements.

    He said:” We have identified gaps from the United States Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) and ICAO Needs Assessment Reviews were constituted into a gap analysis checklist and sent to the NCAA in April 2015.

    The tracking team has completed its first gap closure assessment visit to NCAA and FAAN over a month ago.

    After the assessment, 68 per cent of the identified gaps were closed.

    However, in the gaps closure review last month remarkable improvement was indicated, which might drive the gaps closure assessment percentage to over 90 per cent.”

     

    Customer Service

    Enhancement

     

    In the last few months several initiatives were executed to enhance passengers’ experience in the sector. Towards this end, aviation. Passengers’ service portal was deployed this year to provide prospective users with up to date information on flights operated within the Nigerian airspace.

    Only last week, Glo telecommunications installed wifi services at the Abuja and Lagos airports.

    Other airports are billed for installation with wifi in the next few months.

    FAAN

    The minister also spared a thought for failings by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN), which currently manages 21 out of the 25 airports in the country with a lopsided personnel of over 21 per cent technical staff as opposed to 78 per cent non technical personnel .

    Such lopsidedness he said is skewed against the mandate of the authority in providing adequate facilities and personnel for effective security at all airports.

    Chidoka said some interventions were put in place to whip the airport authority in line through the introduction of performance management, posting of airport managers, tracking of staff on customer service as well as refocusing of the Aerotropolis project by injecting greater transparency.

    Chidoka said: “Some steps have been taken to redress the situation through review of airport remodelling projects by independent quantity surveyors, provision of navigation and air field lighting facilities as well as setting up a committee on airport charges to align charges with competition.”

    On the key issues confronting FAAN, Chidoka said the authority has over N30 billion pension liability which is unfunded

    This he said arose on account of switch over to the new contributory pension scheme.

    He said the indebtedness of airlines to FAAN has impacted negatively on its finances thereby limiting its capacity to be self sustaining.

    Chidoka said: “There are staffing inefficiencies in Nigerian airports when compared with other airports of similar size around the world. There are ageing staff with very little competitive drive. There is no evidence of systematic personnel evaluation and absence of ling term staff planning at FAAN due to absence of a long term business plan.”

    He said FAAN should be corporatized into airport management companies in clusters of airports with a view to privatizing the companies.

    ‘If the sector must move forward, there is need to implement the strategic master plan that will address issues bordering on aerodrome infrastructure and operation, airline operations and safety, airspace management as well as manpower development’