NAN-H-83
Airports
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Jan. 12, 2017 (NAN) The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen Hadi Sirika says the decision to concession the maintenance of airport infrastructure across the country is to maintain high standard and efficiency in airport operations.
According to him, this is in tandem with global standards.
Sirika said this in a statement issued by Mr James Odaudu, the Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs, Ministry of Transportation on Thursday in Abuja.
The minister of state said this, while receiving a delegation from the International Enterprise Singapore led by its Director, Middle East and Africa Group, Ian Lee.
He stated that government was strongly committed to providing an enabling environment for investors to thrive in the aviation sector with rules and regulations to make the industry economically attractive.
According to him, government has also made concerted efforts on the improvement of security in the country.
This he noted had led to the virtual defeat of Boko Haram insurgents that had terrorised the nation in the immediate past.
Sirika also confirmed that the procurement processes for the Concession and the National Carrier had reached advanced stages as government would soon appoint Transaction Advisers.
“The government is open and prepared to work with all serious minded and sincere investors who have the know-how to contribute to the nation’s development,” he said.
The minister also explained that the rationale behind the decision to temporarily shut down operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja for repair works on the airport runway was purely based on safety considerations.
According to him, while the whole renovation work will last for six months, the six-week closure will enable the restoration of the runway to a usable state.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Lee said they were in the country to indicate their interest in building business relationships with Nigeria and Nigerian companies, especially in the aviation sector.
He said they had identified the on-going Airport Infrastructure Concession and the proposed National Carrier as areas of high interest.
Lee told the minister that the main purpose of IE Singapore was to drive Singapore’s external economy, by growing Globally Competitive Companies and promoting international trade to ensure Singapore’s growth in a globalised world.
According to him, Nigeria represents the future of African continent going by its political and economic stature which has placed it in the leadership position it now occupies.
This, he said had made the country highly attractive to prospective investors, especially from Singapore and expressed his country’s desire to forge a better and mutually beneficial economic relationship with Nigeria. (NAN)
OYS/EEE
======
Edited by Ese E. Ekama