Airport concession will create more jobs – FAAN MD

Following the fears expressed by members of staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over their jobs if the airports are concessioned, the Managing Director/ CEO, FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma has assured that the concession will create more job opportunities and not take peoples jobs.

Engr. Dunoma gave the assurance in Abuja at the Abuja Transport and Aviation Correspondents Association (ATACA) maiden seminar with the theme “Forging a resilient Transportation Industry in Nigeria.”

Engr. Dunoma, who was represented at the event by the Director, Commercial and Business Development FAAN, Mr. Sadiku Abdulkadir Rafindadi also said the “concession will affect airport FAAN staff positively.”

Recall the FG announced it has will concession the federal government owned airports following paucity of funds to maintain them. The airports concession beginning will begin with Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt. It will eventually move to other airports. Already a transaction advisor has been appointed by the FG to define the concession process and engender a transparent concession arrangement.

“Concession is all about efficiency. As long as we have private partnership, it will add value and bring about greater investments into the sector. Government investments are often not always well managed but when it is privately driven, it is efficient and well managed. Definitely, people won’t lose their jobs. In fact, there will be more job opportunities at the airports that are concessioned. People will get jobs and even retain their jobs” he assured.

Speaking on the topic “Attracting Investment in Aviation Industry: The Role of Government and Industry Players” the FAAN MD said, “to attract investments in the aviation sector, Government should curb the high taxes which stifle air transport growth and the development of modern and friendly airports in the country, addressing issues related to policy, civil aviation regulations, aeronautical charge regime, Establishment of National Carrier, Establishment of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Facility, Development of Agro-Allied Cargo infrastructure, and the template for airport concessions.”

He also explained that “government needs to rectify aviation policies so as to guarantee reliability and trust to contractual agreements on airport concessions and leases in other to attract the right investment and funding.”