FG okays N46bn contracts for airport upgrades, Maitama District

BY DANIEL IDONOR
A weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, session presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo Wednesday ratified the contracts for the upgrading and reconstruction of terminal buildings in some of Nigeria’s airports.

A similar ratification was also approved for the provision of facilities in the Maitama extension district of the federal capital territory. Both projects are valued at a sum of over  N46 billion.

Expectedly, the aviation sector got the chunk of the funds contained in the ratified anticipatory approvals in the sum of N22.3 billion while the approval for the provision of facilities at Maitama district was put at  N23.6 billion.

Addressing a post FEC press conference on the outcome of the meeting, Minister of Information and Communication, Mr. Labaran Maku said that the Council ratified anticipatory approval for the rehabilitation of the airside and Terminal building of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

He said the works to be done on the airport at Abuja and that of a brand new terminal building for the Aminu Kano Airport which has since outlived normal standards needed would enhance smooth running of the aviation sector.

According to him, the rehabilitation works at the Abuja Airport is to be handled by the builders of the facility which is Julius Berger at the cost of N9.5 billion; while that of Kano Airport is to gulp N12.8 billion, and was awarded to two foreign companies and a local contractor.

The rehabilitation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport which is eight years behind schedule having been built 28 years ago was said to be necessary as some of the facilities have outlived the designed lifespan of 20 years.

“The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja was built about 28 years ago and it has served the nation well. Some of the equipment and facilities have outlived their designed life span of 20 years.

“In view of its strategic location at the seat of the government of Nigeria, there is increasing number of passengers and air traffic activities. There is therefore need for the rehabilitation of the airside at the NAIA, Abuja and upgrade of AFL to CATIII”, he said.

Maku said that Julius Berger which has been awarded the job has 24 months to complete it and was favoured because it was the company that constructed it.

Although he named Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Mallam Aminu Kano Airport, Kano, Port Harcourt International Airport, Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu and Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar as six International Airports to have their facilities upgraded, only approvals on Nnamdi Azikiwe and Aminu Kano Airports were awarded.

Crew Construction  company Nigeria Limited, Messrs Cremona Construction Company Limited of Italy and Messrs Coffer Impex SRL of Romania who were awarded the job for the construction of the new terminal building  for Mallam Aminu Kano Airport have 96 weeks to complete the job.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Mohammed Bala had brought a memo to Council seeking for the ratification of an anticipatory approval for the award of contract for the provision of engineering infrastructure to Maitama Extension District, Abuja which is a newly created residential district in phase one of the city.

The job was awarded to Messrs Mangrovetech (Nigeria) Limited, for N23.6 billion with a completion period of 36 months. It will cover provision of roads, electricity, water and sewage systems.

Feilding questions from Correspondents after the briefing, Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze said that the reform in the aviation sector would see to the total upgrade of facilities in the country starting with the international airports.

She also assured that the federal government would no longer tolerate the shabby treatment of Nigerians by both local and foreign airlines, adding that she has already informed them that the federal government would sanction any airline found that maltreats Nigerian passengers.

Also, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Josephin Anenih brought a memo informing the Council of the creation of a new United Nations entity called “The UN Women” and Joy Ogwu, the Nigerian High Commissioner to the united Nations is its first President of its Executive Board.