An anonymous stakeholder has described the Minister of Aviation’s declaration to concession the nation’s four highest revenue generating airports as ill-timed and economically unwise
This criticism came in the aftermath of the just concluded stakeholders’ forum held in Lagos.
An anonymous stakeholder told NigerianFLIGHTDECK that privatizing revenue-generating airports while burdening FAAN with unviable ones lacks economic sense.
He also argued that the government’s decision to concession airports after investing in infrastructure raises concerns. Moreover, the source cautioned against opportunistic individuals profiting at the expense of public hardship, drawing parallels with the troubled power sector.
He emphasized, “You do not give up the goose that lays the golden egg.” He criticized the lack of frameworks in concessions, citing chaos at Lagos airport as an example.
Another aviation stakeholder, Abdulyakeem Umar, publisher of Aviation Safety and Security magazine, cautioned that this concession could result in substantial job losses.
Umar, reacting to the planned concession of the four viable airports, advised the government to drop the idea. Furthermore, he argued against concessioning only four viable airports while neglecting the 17 non-viable ones that rely on them for survival. He said this decision is ill-timed and economically unwise. Umar declared, “Concessioning only four viable airports in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Kano is totally wrong.” Specifically, what happens to the 17 other non-viable ones that depend largely on these four airports? Anybody taking the four airports should go with the liabilities of the 17 non-viable onesâ€
Umar proposed designating Yola, Jos, Akure, and Makurdi airports as agro-airports to boost agricultural transportation.
He criticized the move, fearing it would harm FAAN and lead to job losses like Nigeria Airways’ closure.
Umar urged Senator Hadi Sirika to take decisive steps to develop the aviation sector.
He recommended that the minister consult the Aviation Round Table (ART) team for guidance, leveraging their experience.
Umar called for a thorough restructuring of the aviation sector to promote growth, suggesting some management staff are unsuitable.
