Airport concession: FG allay fear of job loss

The planned concession of four airporrts across the country would not lead to job losses according to the Minister of Aviation,  Hadi Sirika.
Sirika gave the assurance at the Federal Government said it would use between June and August this year to finalise the issue of airport concession in the country even as labour continues to kick against the project
Sirika who revealed this in Lagos at the end of the Airport Business Summit and Expo stated that it would offer more job opportunities to more people in the industry.
The planned concession of Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Kano airports have been recieved with mixed reactions.  
 
While aviation labour unions have condemned the exercise,  other stakeholders have lauded the initiative,  saying that concession of the airports would boost efficiency and help to provide infrastructure for these aerodromes that need serious attention.
 
The Federal Government has maintained that it has no money for infrastructure; a situation that has necessitated invitation of private sector to manage and maintain airport infrastructure.
 
Sirika, addressing stakeholders noted that there was no need to sell the people’s asset but to concession them in a way that it will be operated with a view to providing more revenue
He said the proposal will be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in February 2022
He said all the agreement on concession was contained in the outlined proposal saying that it was in the interest of the people.
Sirika explained that the proposal which commenced in 2015 will be advertised for this month for bidders to show interest after which qualified companies will be invited for profiling adding that everything convening the process will close in August
He explained that evaluated companies will asked to present a proposal for engagement
Sirika assured labour of dialogue to ensure that every issue concerning concession were addressed adding that no single worker will be laid off
He assured that all on going concessions will be allowed to finish their tenure before it will be reviewed
On tackling the present traffic is between the domestic and local airports, Sirika said arrangement was on between the Lagos state government and ministry to construct light rail from the Ikeja terminal through the local airports to the international airport
Wole Shadare