Festus Keyamo, SAN, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has taken decisive action by suspending the controversial Nigeria Air Project and airport concessioning initiatives that were previously initiated by the immediate-past administration under President Muhammadu Buhari.
In response to mounting concerns and controversies surrounding the Nigeria Air project and the proposed concessioning of key airports including those in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, experts within the aviation sector have advocated for their suspension. Citing perceived lack of benefits to the aviation sector, these experts have called for a reevaluation of these projects.
On his inaugural visit and during a comprehensive tour of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, Minister Keyamo made a significant announcement, stating that he has suspended all ongoing plans and arrangements pertaining to the highly debated national carrier project, Nigeria Air.
Addressing another pressing issue, the Minister addressed the relocation of foreign airlines to the new terminal in Lagos. He revealed that the underutilization of the new terminal was due to its inability to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft. He revealed that temporary arrangements would be made for airlines to use the terminal while the government acquires larger buses for passenger transportation.
Additionally, the Minister disclosed plans to renovate and modernize the old international terminal at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. This renovation, scheduled to commence by October 1, 2023, aims to address the existing issues with the old terminal, which has drawn complaints for its lack of functional lifts, unwelcoming passages, and absence of adequate air conditioning.
Minister Keyamo further elaborated that the fundamental design flaw of the new terminal lies in its inability to accommodate larger aircraft. This oversight has hindered its effective utilization.
As the Minister takes these actions to suspend controversial projects and address infrastructure challenges, the Nigerian aviation sector and the public will closely watch developments to gauge their impact on the nation’s air travel and transportation landscape.
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