Airports concession program earns conditional commendation, group prays for transparency

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The only aviation pressure group in Nigeria, Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative, (ASRTI), has commended the recent approval of the Federal Government to concession the four major airports in the country namely, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, MMIA Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA Abuja, Aminu Kano International Airport, AKIA Kano, and the Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt .

According to a media statement signed by one Olu Ohunayo, for ASRTI, “We do not need to remind industry stakeholders of the challenges facing our airports in management and funding which could be best ameliorated by a well packaged concession program”.

The statement further stated that the ASRTI as an NGO, was cautiously expressing optimism if the process would be allowed to follow the rule of law and made transparent for all Nigerians to comprehend each step towards the completion of the exercise, it would be very much laudable.

It expressed optimism that if “due process and the rule of law would be observed by the government in addressing the interests of all stakeholders in the industry to ensure industrial peace and harmony”, the national economy and the general public would be well served.

**LEFT: Jare Williams, EX MD, BASL, Manager MMA2. Dr. Gbenga Olowo, President, ASRTI**

Desirable as the decision to concession is, the Aviation Round Table is cautiously optimistic that “the process would be transparently done, due process and the rule of law would be observed by the government in addressing the interests of all stakeholders in the industry to ensure industrial peace and harmony”.

However, ASRTI, called the Federal Government’s attention to, “the series of unresolved litigations and acrimony from concessions made in recent past that have compromised the atmosphere of trust and confidence desirable in the industry”.

The group, ASRTI, therefore urged “all involved in the concession process to exercise due diligence in order to reach a conclusion in the best interest of the nation”.

It can be recalled that the details such as tenure, among others, about the only airport-concession the country presently has, are still shrouded in secrecy as no person even the principal owners (FAAN) who should have details on their fingertips sadly, cannot give an iota of explanation on the concession.

And because the entire process was not transparent, it followed the usual god fatherism the nation is notorious for, especially when it comes to government business. Apart from the litigations; the rightful airport managers entrusted with managing the nation’s airports, still pays humongous fine for the breech which brought the current managers of the facility on stream.