Federal Govt Inaugurates Committee For Concession Of Airports

BEVERLY HILLS, SEPTEMBER 09, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government on Friday inaugurated two committees in a move that signifies the commencement of the concession process for the nation's major airports. The committees are: Project Steering Committee, and a Project Delivery Committee.

Performing the inauguration in his office, the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, stated that the Project Steering Committee, which he chairs, is to provide the general direction, and steer the course of Public Private Partnership project concessions in the aviation sector.

He explained that the driving force behind the resolve of the Federal Government to concession the airports was the over-riding national interest in ensuring the establishment and sustenance of world class standards in both infrastructural development and service delivery.

Sirika stated that some of the reservations being expressed by people about the exercise were born out of “misconception that concession is synonymous with privatisation”.

According to a statement from the ministry, he explained that the airports remained the properties of the Federal Government and that more jobs will be generated at the end of the day.

The minister gave the terms of reference for the committee as approval of technical, financial and legal framework for the successful preparation and execution of the concession; provision of policy guidelines and general direction on all matters relating to concession of projects and programmes in the aviation sector.

Others are to consider and facilitate necessary permits, clearances and approve action plans, budgets and financial requests submitted by the Project Delivery Committee.