As part of the remodelling exercise going on across the
nation’s aviation industry, the Ministry of Aviation has disclosed that it is
strategising to get 30 more aircraft as a deliberate intervention to make air
fare cheaper and affordable to the common man, and aviation business more
profitable to the nation.
General
Manager, Corporate Communications, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),
Mr. Yakubu Dati, who disclosed these in Jos, the Plateau State capital,
while inspecting construction works going on at the Yakubu Gowon Airport,
added that the ministry is also considering Aerotropolis, where cities would be
built around airports; such that hotels and conference halls are built around
the airports to cater for accommodation and business meetings.
He added the airports would therefore no longer be terminal points only but places where economic activities would thrive.
He added the airports would therefore no longer be terminal points only but places where economic activities would thrive.
Dati said the various improvement
that have been seen with the remodelling exercise is in consonance with the
order received by the Minister of Aviation Mrs. Stella Odua from the President
to bring back the aviation to where it rightly belongs, and to put Nigeria on
the map of aviation by restructuring, renovating and remodelling most of the
airports, after which five new international airports would be built.
He said most of the airports which
were built about 30 years ago have seen deterioration and lost touch with the
recent modernisation in the world of aviation, adding that the remodelling is a
deliberate intervention to bring in new investors.
Dati added that the Jos airport will
be specially equipped with facilities to preserve perishable cargoes, having
been chosen as one of the six airports designated as terminals for perishable
and non-perishable goods.
He said the choice of Jos was in
consideration of its great potentials in terms of agriculture: “We have a land
that is good for growing most agricultural products like apples, and our people
here are mostly farmers, and we look at a situation where farmers can bring
their products to this terminal and fly them out to Germany, America, and
Europe. That in itself will empower the farmers and strengthen the economy and
increase our GDP as a nation.”
Going round the project, Dati said
“the capacity of the Departure Lounge is 350, Arrival Lounge is 250, and the
VIP is 150 to 200, and there are about 24 toilets, 17 restaurants and large
bars.”
The site engineer, Wasiu Lawal, who
conducted tour round the project in the company of the Airport Manager, Mr. Jim
Opotu assured that with adequate fund, the work will be completed in no distant
time.