By Ignatius Ushie
The Federal Ministry of Aviation, in line with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (establishment, etc.) Act, 2005, and global best practice, has announced a list of preferred and reserved bidders for three airports in Nigeria.
According to the ministry, the Request for Proposals (REP) phase of the Nigeria Airports Concession Programme (NACP), which came to a close on the 19th of September 2022, has seen the emergence of preferred and reserve bidders for three out of four Airports and Cargo Terminals as approved for concession under the programme.
It was in this light that the Federal Government, on Wednesday, announced the emergence of preferred and reserve bidders for three out of four Airport and Cargo Terminals as approved for concession by the Nigeria Airports Concession Programme, NACP. This disclosure was made by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
While addressing journalists in Abuja, he said the concession came after the Request for Proposals, RFP, adding that it was not the final outcome of the NACP programme.
The Minister, however, disclosed that Corporation America Airports Consortium is a double bidder for the concession program,e, which are: Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, Kano.
According to him, for the fourth airport asset, the ministry is in consultation with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, to decide on the way forward.
“The Request for Proposals (RFP) phase of the Nigeria Airports Concession Programme (NACP), which came to a close on the 19th of September 2022 has seen the emergence of preferred and reserved bidders for three out of four Airports and Cargo Terminals as approved for concession under the programme.
“The preferred bidder for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, is Corporation America Airports Consortium. ENL Consortium has also been selected as the reserve bidder for NAIA.
“The preferred bidder for Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, is TAV/NAHCO/PROJECT PLANET LIMITED(PPL) Consortium. Sifax/Changi Consortium has also been selected as the reserve bidder for MMIA.
“The preferred bidder for Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, is Corporation America Airports Consortium. There are no reserve bidders for MAKIA as at the time of this announcement.
“Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), Port Harcourt, did not receive any proposals as of the RFP deadline close and as such, has not had preferred and reserve bidders attached to it”, he added.
He stated that the next stage of the programme is the negotiations and due diligence stage, during which the Federal Government will invite preferred bidders to enter detailed negotiations with its representatives, with a view to developing a Full Business Case (FBC) before onward transmission to ICRC for review and approval.
Serika said that only after a successful conclusion of the negotiation and due diligence stage would the FBC and all other approvals be presented before the Federal Executive Council for final approval by the Federal Government of Nigeria, adding that
all participants who have responded to the RFP are to ensure that they continue to refer to the NACP website for further information the minister added.
