Abuja – Nigeria – There are indications that investors from the Middle East are interested in the ongoing concession of Nigerian Airports.
According to The Guardian, the interests in the multi-million dollar concession arrangement that have been received so far are from countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which doesn’t seem to go well with stakeholders due to the security implication for the country.
Members of the National Assembly joint committee on aviation got worried about the antecedent of a country like Turkey that has lately been embroiled in political unrest, as well as serving as a channel through which arms and ammunition were smuggled into Nigeria. Even though Turkish Authorities denied being a part in the arms-trafficking saga, Aviation experts are wary of future transactions with investors with Turkish interests.
The concession of the Four International Airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council. Currently, the approval is being worked out by the Ministry of Aviation, as the first phase of the plan to concession all the 22 Federal Government-owned airports nationwide.
A member of a civil society organization, at one of the public hearings held last Thursday, said some lawmakers were of the view that if the bids were restricted to the middle east, the exercise it will not get the buy-in of Nigerians.
Aviation union members who were present at the meeting said it was to prevent the airports from falling into the wrong hands that they demanded to be part of the concession process for transparency. However, the Federal government has allayed the fears of the union by assuring them that they would be carried along with the concession plan.
Aviation Security Consultant, Group Capt John Ojikutu (rtd) who spoke to Guardian said that on the implication of the concession plan he was as disturbed as the lawmakers, though he was quick to add that it was still early to conclude. “whereas we cannot but be skeptical with the biddings, expression of interest is also coming from Europe and Canada, and all need to be patient.”
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Ojikutu said from his conversation with the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, there were several hurdles in the concession process and it was less likely that the wrong bidders would be able to grab a pie in the exercise.
“But in lieu of the security concerns, I have advised them to focus on the concession of the terminals, cargo sections and car parks among others, but not the aeronautical side. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has even warned African countries since 2009 not to concession aeronautical side in the light of security issues around us,” Ojikutu said.
With additional reports from The Guardian
