Buhari Berates Successive Govts, Says They Did Little To Improve Airport Terminals
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday again took a swipe at his predecessors, saying they did little to increase passenger handling capacity of airport terminals in the country since the early 1980s.
Buhari made the claim in his remarks at the inauguration of the new terminal of the Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa, River State.
He said the neglect by successive governments, coupled with increase in the nation’s population, had made the airport terminals to become woefully inadequate to cater for the increase in passenger traffic.
The President said it therefore became necessary for the government to take decisive action to ensure that the nation’s airport terminals meet minimum international standards for the travelling public.
He said the construction of four new international terminals at Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano airports was embarked upon by the Federal Government with a view to modernising the aging airport infrastructure so that they could meet global aviation standards.
Buhari stated, “This ceremony represents a significant landmark for international air travellers, particularly from the South-South region, and the entire country. You will recall that after opening the major airport terminals in the country in the late 1970s and early 1980s, not much was added to increase the passenger handling capacity of these facilities by successive administrations.
“Following the large increase in national population with the consequent surge in air passenger traffic, the capacity of the airport terminals became woefully inadequate to cater for the increase in passenger traffic.
“Although, palliative measures were periodically carried out, the facilities were fast giving-in to the effects of wear and tear.”
He added, “It therefore became necessary to take decisive action to ensure that our terminals meet minimum international standards for the travelling public.
“The Federal Government responded to a global trend in which aviation became a catalyst for economic growth as a result of massive and speedy movement of persons, goods and services in a safe and secure manner.
“As part of the infrastructure renewal programme, the construction of four new international terminals at Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano airports was embarked upon by the Federal Government with a view to modernising the aging airport infrastructure to meet global aviation standards and improve service delivery in tandem with best international practices.”
Buhari recalled that during the presentation of the 2017 budget estimates to the National Assembly, he promised to upgrade and develop Nigeria’s transport, power and health infrastructure, and complete a number of stalled infrastructure projects.
These, he said, included construction of new terminals at the country’s five major airports; numerous major road projects; key power transmission projects; and the completion of the Kaduna-Abuja as well as Itakpe to Warri rail lines.
He added that with the country having an advantageous central location within the sub-region and the government’s desire to develop into a regional air transportation hub, it must upgrade its facilities to take advantage of the assets.
Buhari described the recent government’s decision to remove Value Added Tax from domestic air transportation as being in line with global best practices.
He said the decision would make air travel more affordable and subsequently lead to the creation of jobs by the air transport service value chain as well as increase revenues for the government.
The President described the inauguration of the new terminal of the Port Harcourt airport as an example of the government’s deliberate policy to sustain the development of infrastructure for economic growth in all geo-political zones of the country.
He commended the people of the South-South and airport users for their patience during the period of construction of the terminal.
He also lauded the Ministry of Transportation, particularly the Aviation arm, the Chinese government and the China Exim Bank for their financial support and the various roles they played leading to the successful completion of the project.
Buhari also commended the contractor, Messrs CCECC, for what he called timely service delivery.
However, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, was conspicuously absent at the event, which drew a huge crowd from different parts of the country.
Speaking on why Amaechi was absent at the event, the Rivers State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Chris Finebone, said the minister, who is also a former governor of the state, was in Ibadan for special town hall meeting with the people of Oyo State.
Earlier in his remarks, the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, expressed the need for the completion of the domestic wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport.
Maintaining that the people Rivers State and the entire South-South would be happy with the President for the completion and inauguration of the project, the governor added that it would enhance the economy of the state and create employment for the people.
He called on the people of the state and other Nigerians not to de-market Rivers, adding that the state remained safe for investors.
Also, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, stated that $69.15m would be required for the completion of the Kano, Lagos and Abuja airport terminals.
Sirika added that the sum of $600m had been expended on the Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt airports since 2014, recalling that China Exim Bank provided a $500m loan in the same year, while the sum of $100m was provided by the Federal Government as counterpart funding.
