Aviation Workers Kick Against the Concession of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Others

Aviation Unions have vowed to resist any attempt to concession any of the Nigerian International Airports amid a series of labour issues left unresolved. 

Rising from an emergency congress at the headquarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), aviation unions noted that since the decision to concession the four most important airports in Nigeria was taken, the unions have vigorously opposed the idea.

The unions which attended the emergence congress include the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, the National Union of Air Transport Employees, and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals.

Investors King could recall that the Federal Government is planning to concession four major international airports in Nigeria which include the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Murtala Mohammed International Airports, Lagos, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, and Port Harcourt International Airport. 

According to the government, the concessions which are currently ongoing will usher more investment into the country’s aviation industry. 

Following the successful concession of the four major international airports, the government also intends to concession at least 17 other airports which are under the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). 

Meanwhile, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sikira has announced the preferred bidders for three of the four international airports up for grabs. 

The minister announced Corporation America Airports Consortium as the preferred bidder for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja while the preferred bidder for Murtala Mohammed International Airports was TAV/NAHCO Project Planet Limited. 

He added further that Corporation America Airports Consortium also emerged as the preferred bidder for Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. 

In preparation for the concession, the minister of aviation has issued a directive for the demolition of the office of FAAN, the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority in Lagos.

This directive however did not go down well with aviation unions who alleged a lack of trust and transparency on the part of the minister. 

The unions observed that the rush to deliver the project at all costs showed some suspicion which could create a disaster for the country’s aviation industry.