TheMinister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Tuesday declared a state of emergency on the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, with a promise to temporarily relocate his office to the premises to see it fixed before April next year.
The Minister who promised to directly supervise the rehabilitation of the airport to make sure repair works were done on it, announced that the new terminal building for the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, will be ready before the end of the year.
Sirika who spoke while defending the Ministry of Aviation 2020 budget before the House on Aviation, said with the approval of N10 billion for the Enugu Airport by the President, the contractors were expected to mobilise to site as soon as possible, adding that the President had already directed all agencies associated with the smooth work on the airport to work together to ensure it was delivered on time.
He disclosed that the rehabilitation work on the Enugu airport would be done in such a way that the airport would be the best in the country, adding that all houses located close to the airport may have to give way for increased safety.
Sirika revealed that the Enugu state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has given assurance that he will provide support for the rehabilitation of the airport and asked the lawmaker to always visit the airport to assess the progress of work.
Sirika also said the delay in the completion of the terminal building in Lagos, has been addressed with the approval of funds by the President, stressing that the private hangers that were also hampering the work have started giving way.
He stated that once the Ministry is able to complete the new terminal building, the old one will be replaced by a new structure and appealed to the Committee for their cooperation in the efforts of the Ministry to ensure the nation’s airports are safe.
Speaking on the performance of the 2019 budget, the Minister told the lawmakers that only N7,330,178,427.45 representing 20.8 percent of the capital allocation to the Ministry was released, adding that so far, N2,627,119,597.14 had been paid out from the released 2019 Budget, while some Certificates of Completion of Projects were being processed for payment.
He appealed to the Committee to ensure that the Aviation Sector was improved by ensuring that the airports and all the needed equipment necessary for safety and security were provided to meet the Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) as outlined by regulatory Aviation bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (lCAO), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), etc.
He disclosed that there were challenges with the new Terminals being built with the $500M loan from the China Exim Bank, which include changes in structural design of the airports, foundation footing and escalators; provisions for the biggest modern aircraft; changes in departure and arrival floors to rhyme with the railway station; provision of adequate power supply to ensure all facilities are put to use and relocation of the Control Tower and the Fire Service Station
“The above has resulted in the need for variation and additional works to the tune of $461,795,551.02 which had been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
“The China Exim Bank has indicated willingness to consider funding the above additional works and we have written to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to provide for the Sum of $73,887,288.16 (N22,535,622,888.00 @N305/$) as counterpart fund in 2019 outside the Ministry’s proposed FGN Budget.
“The President has graciously approved 50% of this Sum and in 3 months we are expecting the balance of the remaining 50% of the money.
“For the 2020 Budget Proposal, we have also approached the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning to provide the counterpart funding for remedial/additional works and completion of four Chinese terminals at Kano, Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt (($ 51, 800,266.99)(N15,850,881,698.94) has been approved by Mr. President”.
Sirika said about N91.8 billion was being proposed in the 2020 budget for what he called Viability Funding of the new national courier, adding that more Bilateral/Multilateral Air Services Agreement would be signed in 2020 for the benefit of our air travelers. We have developed a road map for the Aviation Sector that will be implemented through Public-Private Partnership (PPP),” he stated.
He disclosed that the establishment of Aerospace University with the support of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had been approved by the President, adding that the ministry already had a policy of enforcement of expatriate quota in the Industry with the full cooperation of the Ministry of Interior and immigration Service.
James Kwen, Abuja
