A group of stakeholders in the aviation industry has warned the Federal Government not to risk the nation’s security by handing over the four international airports reserved for concessioning to foreign companies.
The airports are Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, and the Port-Harcourt International Airport.
A former engineer with the defunct Nigeria Airways, Mustapha Bello, noted that security and national interest should be the first consideration when handling national assets.
“Nigeria should not forget the experience of Uganda during the reign of the late General Idi Amin. The Entebbe raid was successfully carried out because the Israelis had the architectural plan of the Uganda Entebbe International Airport in their palm.
“Since there are some Nigerian companies who have successfully operated airports terminals, like Bi-Courtney Aviation Services, who are currently running Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2, MMA2, Lagos, they should be considered first.
“There is another successful Nigerian whose company is operating at the Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom, UK. Such companies owned by Nigerians should be considered first,” he said.
A Chief Executive Officer of an aviation company based in Lagos anonymously said the indigenization of national assets is very important to create jobs for the teeming population and prevent capital flight.
In his words, “For obvious reasons, it is necessary for the airports to be concessioned to local firms with track records, merit, and competence, rather than foreign companies that you cannot vouch for. Some of the foreign companies being touted don’t even have the required records.
“Bi-Courtney Aviation Services, BASL, has proved to be the best private terminal manager in the last 14 years and so should be supported by the government because of its antecedent in terminal management. “Luckily I was informed that they also bid for the terminals to be concessioned”.
