…. terminal to generate about 3,000 jobs
Posted by Sade Williams
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesdays, commissioned the newly built international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos just as he says that with the delivery of the project, a new era of safety, security, and comfort has been ushered into the Nigerian aviation industry.
According to him, the event is an testimony to the strong commitment of his administration to the development of world-class infrastructure across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.
He expressed confidence that the new terminal, with sixty-six check-in-counters, sixteen Immigration desks at arrival, twenty-eight Immigration desks at departure, and eight security screening points, among others, will go a long way in contributing to the socio political and economic prosperity of our great nation.
Other facilities in the terminal include 5 baggage collection carousels, 16 Immigration desks at arrival, 28 Immigration desks at departure, 8 security screening points, 6 passenger boarding bridges (out of which 2 has already been installed), 2 food courts, 4 premium lounges, 22 guest rooms and spa, 16 airline ticketing offices, visa on arrival and port health facility, as well as praying area, more than 3,000 square metres of duty free space, approximately 5,000 square metres of lettable utility space, amongst others.
“This improvement will increase airport operations and management services to about 14 million passengers per annum, with the attendant positive multiplier effects, by creating about 3,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities for our youths, increased inflow of Foreign Direct Investments and exponential growth in the Gross Domestic Product.”, he said.
According to him, the current administration bears in mind the importance of airport infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth, Foreign Direct Investment and development globally,, hence ‘this administration decided to prioritize the completion and delivery of five brand new international terminals, which were at 11% completion level when we came into power in 2015.
“This aligns perfectly with our Aviation Roadmap, which was developed in 2016, for the purposes of establishing critical infrastructure, including a National Carrier, Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul Centre and improved Airports Terminals through concession, to boost aviation practice and take the industry to the next level, reflecting global standards.
“We have also complemented these robust initiatives with specific fiscal policies to drive aviation infrastructure renaissance.
“These include the designation of 4 airports, namely Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt as Free Trade Zones, in which customs duty is not applicable; removal of VAT on all forms of shared transportation, including air transportation; and exemption of commercial aircraft and spare parts from VAT payment.”, he added.
He noted that similar projects at both the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Port Harcourt International Airport were completed and commissioned by this administration and our people have since been benefiting from the positive economic impacts of those magnificent terminals, adding that the one in Kano has also been completed, and will be commissioned soon, while work continues apace to complete that of Enugu shortly.
He noted that as the approved Aviation roadmap is being implemented, Nigerians begin to experience an unprecedented growth of the sector, putting pressure on the infrastructure and making business inefficient, ‘government is responding by further investments and partnerships in the sector to tend to this challenge.
“Consequently, the Minister of Aviation has been directed to fast track the airport concession programme. Similarly, the Abuja second runway is being fast tracked. The Minister of Finance, Budhet and National Planning has been directed to source special funding for the project while the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory is directed to conclude the titling of the approved 12,000 hectares of land to accommodate the runway and other developmental projects”.
He expressed appreciation to the partners on the project, the Government and People of the Republic of China, through the China Export-Import Bank and CCECC Nigeria Limited, for their commitment and support towards the completion of this infrastructure.
“Let me also commend the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its agencies, particularly, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, for working assiduously towards the realization of the project.
“I therefore, congratulate all Nigerians on the successful completion and commissioning of the Terminal Building at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos our premier airport.”, he added.
