The Federal Government has announced plans to concession four major airports as part of efforts to develop and secure the aviation sector and diversify the nation’s economy.
Addressing aviation industry players in Abuja, the Minister of State for Aviation, Captain Hadi Sirika, announced that the airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt will be managed by private sector operators.
He also announced plans by the federal government to establish aviation development bank and an aviation university to provide funding and quality technical manpower for the industry.
It was the first aviation stakeholders’ forum since the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari came on board.
The minister reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to fast track the development of the sector through public private partnership.
He used the occasion to announce the streamlining of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the creation of employment opportunities for Nigerian pilots.
Although the presentation of the minister received an applause from the stakeholders, some of them expressed concerns about the activities of some agencies under the ministry.
Others appealed to the federal government to urgently address the challenges being faced in the industry.
The one-day forum which attracted airline operators, pilots and captains of the aviation industry is aimed at strengthening the sector towards efficient service delivery. (Channelstv)