The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika Tuesday said the five international airports in Nigeria will attract 70 to 100million passengers through the Federal Government planned concession.
These airports include Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu airports.
The Minister said this yesterday in Lagos during his meeting with the stakeholders in the aviation industry.
Sirika said that with the state of the Nigerian airports presently, they cannot attract more than 15million passengers.
According to the minister, “The government no longer have money to put into these airports. So, the only option we have is to concession and that is the only way to make the airport a hub for Africa.”
While addressing the challenges of the domestic airlines, the minister stressed that although the airlines are going through difficulties presently, but these difficulties will be addressed by the federal government in order to sutain the airlines.
“We will do anything to save the airlines and we will not allow the airlines die under our watch. The government will help save and protect the interest of workers in the aviation sector,” the minister assured.
On the national carrier, Sirika reiterated that the national carrier will be private sector driven and government will encourage the establishment of aviation leasing company to provide services for airlines.
