Nigeria Excites International Investors-Dati

The massive intervention of the Nigerian Government in the aviation sector, by way of infrastructural, safety and security upgrades as well as human capital development is repositioning the Nigerian aviation sector as a major player in the African continent, said Yakubu Dati, Coordinating general manager, Aviation Parastatals.

In a statement made available to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek at the weekend, Dati also said that the designation of airports to make them more viable and embarking on international road shows, to showcase the birth of a transformed sector, as contained in the Aviation Master Plan, has caught world attention.

He said: “The Aviation Master Plan, as developed by Princess Stella Oduah, The Aviation Minister has culminated in beneficial business relationship with key international investors.

“The signing of a $500 million loan agreement with the Chinese government for the construction of four new International airport terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano is a turning point in Nigeria's quest to play its leadership role in African aviation.

“The world renowned construction conglomerate, CCECC has moved in with its skill and expertise to deliver these state-of-the-art airports in less than two years, with an interest rate below 3% which can only start running after a grace period of ten years under a thirty year facility! It can't be better”!

He added that the Agreement is one of many other Agreements and MoU's signed in Beijing as President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan formally concludes a two-day state visit to China.

Construction work on the terminals will soon begin and the accessed funds from the Chinese EXIM Bank, will guarantee its completion on schedule, the GM said.

The simultaneous construction of four international airports, in addition to the on-going work in sixteen airport terminals nearing completion across the country will create ready employment for the youthful population which accounts for 44% of the estimated 170 million people.

These templates will place Nigeria at a competitive advantage over the rest of Africa, in a few years, and indeed the world, in coming decades.

According to the elated Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, Aviation minister, the dream of President Jonathan to bequeath befitting international airports for the country will now be realised.