Hadi Sirika - Afrikan Heroes

Nigeria Plans to Concession 17 Airports, Unbundle Aviation Regulations

June 17, 2022

The Nigerian government has announced that at least 17 airports under the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that are currently up for concession to be given to concessionaires. It also announced that the country’s civil aviation regulations were currently being reviewed for unbundling in order to make the entry requirements for aviation investors much easier.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who disclosed this at the ongoing National Aviation Conference in Abuja, stated that aside from the current concession of Nigeria’s major international airports, other airports would follow suit.

The concession process for Nigeria’s four international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano is currently ongoing. FAAN manages 21 airports on behalf of the Federal Government.

Speaking on investment opportunities in the aviation sector, Sirika said, “For investments in the airports, airport concessions, starting with the five international airports are also excellent opportunities for investments. Other airports too gradually will be out of concession.

“There are a lot of state airports, a lot of private airports, I believe that they need resources and investments and I’m sure the owners/operators of these airports will welcome investments from the private sector to enable them to achieve their strategic goals for implementing these projects.”

The minister, who was represented by the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Musa Nuhu, added, “So, by and large, the Nigeria aviation industry offers several opportunities for investments and we as the regulator, we are working at the regulations to unbundle them and make it easier for people to invest in all areas.

“This is especially in general aviation which has significant sectors and we are going to be unbundling our regulations to make the entry requirements much easier so that people are encouraged to invest.”

In his address at the conference, the Director, Commercial and Business Development, FAAN, Sadiku Rafindadi, stated that the Nigerian aviation market was huge, yet untapped.

He, however, noted that the plan of FAAN was to fully tap Nigeria’s potential and harness the available opportunities within the 21 airports managed by the authority.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

Nigeria Lifts Ban on Lufthansa, Air France to Operate Int’l Flights into the Country

November 18, 2020

The ban earlier placed on some European carriers such as Lufthansa German Airline, and Air France/KLM Group by the Nigerian government from operating international flights into the country has been lifted. This development follows a series of bilateral talks between the Nigerian government and representatives of the airlines and their diplomats. Making the decision public, the Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika also added that Qatar Airways has been granted approval to resume flights to Abuja.

Sirika hinted at the possibility of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport and Enugu Airport accommodating foreign travellers before year end. It could be recalled that the ban came on the heels of the Covid-19 travel ban especially when Nigerians complained that European countries banned Nigerians from coming to their country while their airlines are allowed to fly into Nigeria daily, this prompted the government of Nigeria to retaliate by placing a ban on the airlines.

The Aviation Minister also noted that his ministry is working with the Ministry of Health, CACOVID & The PTF to open Kano, Port Harcourt & possibly Enugu airports before the end of the year. Also Lufthansa, Air France/KLM have been given go-ahead to resume.