The Federal Government of Nigeria is pushing ahead with its plan to concession key airports across the country, aiming for improved standards and enhanced services. This determination was recently reiterated by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during a briefing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The airports marked for concession under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu include Lagos' Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Abuja's Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano, and Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa. These airports represent major hubs for domestic and international travel, and the government sees their concession as key to unlocking higher efficiency, improved infrastructure, and a more professional management system.
Keyamo emphasized that the federal government is committed to transparency throughout the concession process, especially considering past criticisms of non-transparent handling. To ensure openness, the Minister announced that advertisements for the exercise will soon be published, inviting bids from potential partners across the globe. This move aligns with the government's objective of securing the best possible partners who can transform Nigeria's airports and ensure they are run professionally.
We are advertising very soon for airport concession, Keyamo said, but we want to carry the unions along. This is my major focus in this drive. I don’t want to do it like the previous ones, which led to several complaints from within resistance by the unions, other people, and even the co-bidders that the processes were not transparent enough.
The Minister further assured that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) staff will not be negatively impacted by the concession process. He made it clear that any concessionaire that wins the bid will be required to take on the liabilities of the government, including safeguarding the jobs of FAAN employees. Keyamo’s reassurances were aimed at addressing concerns from unions and staff, emphasizing that their jobs are safe, and that their well-being will be a non-negotiable condition in the concession agreement.
We are looking for the best partners in the world to come and collaborate with us in turning the airport around and running them professionally, Keyamo stated. And all will be to the ultimate benefit of Nigerians.
He also highlighted the decision to halt previous concession processes, which had been mired in controversy and legal battles. There were complaints, there were litigations, people went to court. It was not transparent enough. But under this government, under Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, it is going to be as transparent as possible, he said.
Keyamo’s vision aligns with President Tinubu’s directive to prioritize the best interests of Nigeria over political or personal agendas. The Tinubu administration is resolute in avoiding the mistakes of past governments, ensuring that the current concession process is free from bias, fully transparent, and geared towards delivering the best outcomes for the country’s aviation sector.
With the looming public advertisement for the concession process, the Federal Government is gearing up for a new era of public private partnerships aimed at transforming Nigeria’s airports into world-class facilities. The initiative promises to enhance the travel experience for millions of Nigerians while ensuring that the country’s aviation infrastructure meets global standards.
As this process unfolds, all eyes will be on the government to ensure that it delivers on its promises of transparency, job security, and finding the right partners to drive this ambitious project forward.