Nigeria New Int’l Terminals ready in 2016 – FAAN

The new terminals at Nigeria’s major international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu will be completed in 2016, Saleh Dunoma, managing director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has said. 

 

When they are completed, Nigeria will become the hub of aviation in Africa, he said, adding, “these airports will improve passenger comfort, increase capacity and improve facilitation.”

Speaking in Panama, during the Annual General Assembly Conference and Exhibition of the Airport Council International (ACI), Dunoma said the completion of these terminals would stimulate robust traffic growth in passenger and cargo traffic.

Though the 7.2 percent increase for passenger traffic from the MINT countries – Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey – as contained in the 2014 ACI World Airport Traffic Report, was commendable, this figure would experience a steady rise, he said.

The new international terminals are being constructed with the $500 million loan secured from Chinese bank under Stella Oduah as Aviation Minister about two years ago.

Earlier at the opening ceremony, the President of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez, welcomed members to the city, highlighting the importance of aviation, which always contribute significantly to GDP.

In her presentation, Angela Gittens, director-general, ACI World, said ACI was enjoying more collaboration than ever with ICAO to ensure that policy decisions were balanced among airports, airlines and air navigation service providers.

The ACI accounts for 590 regular members operating 1,850 airports in 77 countries.

It promotes the advancement of the collective interests of the world’s airports and the community they serve, and promoting professional excellence in airport management and operations worldwide.

In his welcome address, Joseph Fidanque III, the general manager, Tacuma International Airport, said the Tacuma Airport was building a new terminal to accommodate growing traffic as the hub of region.

Also speaking on the theme ‘Airports: Shaping our future’ Hector Navarrette, chairman of ACI World, said ACI “works across all aspects of the airport business, from our top priorities of safety and security to customer service, training, the environment, knowledge sharing and much more.”