Despite stout resistance by some stakeholders and aviation unions and associations, the federal government is pressing ahead with plans to concession the four biggest airports in the country in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcout by August. According to the federal government, the aforementioned four airports will be used as a pilot before the other 18 would follow.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who spoke yesterday in Lagos, said the last phase of the concession preparations would be done between this month and July.
Nonetheless, the main concern of workers, under the aegis of the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Pensioners (NUP), is what would be their fate when the airports fall into private hands. They have vowed to resist the move.
However, Sirika explained that the concession move, which commenced in 2015, will be advertised this month for bidders to show interest after which qualified companies will be invited for profiling, adding that everything convening the process will close in August
He added that evaluated companies would be asked to present a proposal for engagement, even as he assured labour of dialogue to ensure that every issue concerning concession was addressed, adding that no single worker will be laid off.
