Aviation Sector Explores Opportunity for Investment, Embarks on PPP

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has sought to exploit opportunities for investments as it embarks on Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

This comes on the heels of FAAN’s latest report that Nigeria lost $2.5 billion in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) on Nigerian aircraft and other facilities in 2021.

Investors King gathered that the Federal Government has been seeking measures to carefully and painstakingly address important industry concerns and pave the road for a National Air Transport Industry that is profitable, as well as a significant accelerator for national economic growth and development.

This new development was revealed by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, on Thursday in Abuja, explaining that it also aims to reduce the federal government’s financial burden.

According to him, FAAN`s key partnership initiative will focus on safety and security, infrastructural development, growing domestic airlines through new route development and designation of airports for improved performance and revenue creation.

Reaffirming what was revealed on Tuesday, he said “recently, the Federal Capital Territory offered 12,000 hectares of land for aviation development for Abuja airport. This will give good opportunity for investment. There are opportunities in other airports like the Lagos airport.”

“Apart from FAAN, other agencies, NCAT, NIMET, AIB NCAA under the ministry also provide excellent opportunity for the investment in the airports.The aviation sector summons opportunity for investment,” he added.

Furthermore, Sirika stated that the government’s goal was to encourage investors by making regulation easier to invest in all areas of the roadmap.

He claimed that the federal government’s efforts to find a solution to the COVID-19 pandemic’s issues had offered excellent opportunities across the whole aviation ecosystem.

FAAN Director of Commercial and Business Development, Mr. Sadiku Rafindadi, also spoke stating that the participation of the general people, government officials, and aviation stakeholders was critical to the forum’s success.

Due to its proximity to Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of Africa, Rafindadi said the Nigerian aviation sector was ideally positioned to take advantage of the predicted expansion in the African market.