Chinese IT Firms Ogle Nigeria’s Aviation Sector

Huawei Technologies Company of China in conjunction with their IT solutions partner, SITA will present a Joint Proposal to the Aviation Ministry seeking to provide IT Infrastructure for the new airport terminals.

This was part of the outcomes of 10-Day Aviation ''Road Show'' embarked upon by the Stella Adaeze-Oduah, Minister of Aviation and top officials.

Joe Obi, senior assistant on Media to the Minister, confirmed that some Chinese companies have indicated their interest in investing in infrastructural development in the nation’s aviation sector.

Huawei officials made the proposals when the Nigerian delegation visited their headquarters in Shenzhen, China where discussions and meetings were held with top management of the enterprise group. The discussions centered on the fundamentals of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria's (FAAN) desired IT infrastructure for the new terminals.

Obi disclosed that the delegation met and held discussions with Airport Design Specialists CSWADI and the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD).

They also met with airport specialized equipment suppliers CIMC- Tianda (for Avionics bridges and Apron buses) as well as CASRI (for airport baggage handling systems).

He noted that another Chinese firm, China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd (CSCEC) has given its commitment and readiness to invest in the construction of Aerotropolis within the major international airports in Nigeria.

Yu Zhende, vice president, overseas operation  of CSCEC, who made the pledge at the headquarters of the corporation in Beijing, China during the minister’s visit to the country, said Nigeria is a major country in Africa hence the development of her aviation sector would establish the country as a major hub on the African continent.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that a delegation from CSCEC will soon visit Nigeria to study and deliberate more on the concept of Aerotropolis development. They also expressed the readiness of the company to sign an agreement and mobilise to site as soon as the Nigerian and Chinese governments come to a compromise.

“We will send a delegation to Nigeria to conceptualise this project, subsequently we will work with the Chinese government to finance this project”, Zhende stated.

He added that “it will take the support of both governments to actualize the project but "we will move as fast as the Nigerian government wants us to move”.

On the technical milieu of CSCEC, the Vice President stated that the company has vast and extensive experience in airport construction in China, the UAE, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Zhende pointed at the magnificent African Union building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as one of its landmark technological edifice in the continent.  He assured that quality and timely deliverance forms the bedrock of all the company’s projects.