Aviation Stakeholder Calls For Closure Of 18 Airports

Mr Bankole Bernard, an aviation sector stakeholder, has made call that 18 airports in Nigeria should be turned into shopping malls to generate revenue over the current economic hardship in the country.

While noting that only four airports; Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Abuja and Kano, out of 22 airports in the country are viable, he added that operations of the other 18 airports had been unviable over the years, especially the airport in Owerri.

Bernard who suggested this on Sunday, urged the federal and state governments to consider the construction of shopping malls and other facilities that would attract more commercial activities to the unviable airports.

“What are the possible solutions to consider given the numerous challenges we are faced with in the industry? We can start with the modernisation of airport terminals with shopping malls.

“This will contribute to the commercial viability of the airports and other necessary infrastructures like the internet and constant power supply to support businesses.

“We must begin to think of an alternative power supply like renewable energy to keep the airports functional and reduce the cost of operation in the long run.

“This will also make the airports viable and attractive.

“There is the area of interconnectivity within airports. The interconnectivity of the local airports to the international airports will contribute to the economic viability of the airports,’’ he said.