A collage of Nigerian airports.The Federal Government on Monday officially commenced the search for concessionaires to manage Nigeria’s four major airports in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.
It made this public through the Federal Ministry of Aviation in its requests for prequalification bids for the concession of four international airport terminals and related services.
The FMA said the move was in compliance with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and National Policy on Public-Private Partnership.
Last week, that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had said that the four airports were originally not designed as international facilities, a development that made the government to put them up for concession.
In the just released requests for qualification document signed by the Permanent Secretary, FMA, Hassan Musa, the four airports were listed as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; the Mallam Amınu Kano International Airport, Kano; and the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers.
The ministry said the intention of government was to develop the facilities into efficient, profitable and self-sustaining commercial hubs that would create more jobs and develop local industries through public private partnerships.
The document, which was made available by the ministry’s spokesperson, James Odaudu, read in part, “The Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation is inviting bids from reputable airport developers/operators/financiers/consortia for pre-qualification for the concession of selected airports terminals under a PPP arrangement.
“The airport’s terminal concession is one of the critical projects under the aviation sector roadmap of the Federal Government and fits well within the scope of the ministry’s strategic plan for the sector.
“The execution of this project is meant to achieve the Federal Government’s objective in terms of air transport value chain growth by developing and profitably managing customer-centric airport facilities for safe, secure and efficient carriage of passengers and goods at world-class standards of quality.”
The government stated that to be pre-qualified for consideration as a prospective PPP partner for the project, a firm or consortia must have technical, operational and financial capability.
It said prospective bidders must have experience in the development and operation of an international airport and cargo terminals, evidence of financial capacity in support of the company or consortium’s ability to undertake the airport concession illustrated by a minimum net worth of N30bn, among others.
In a related development, the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, on Monday, confirmed its moves to acquire the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport as part of the concession, stressing that it had the capacity.
KACCIMA Deputy President, Ambassador Usman Darma, during a press conference in Kano, disclosed that the organisation was making efforts to explore the possibility that MAKIA was conceded to the Kano business community.