The Federal Government has approved the concession of the Port Harcourt International Airport to private operators in a move aimed at improving efficiency and reducing operational losses across underperforming terminals.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.
Keyamo assured aviation workers that no jobs would be lost due to the concession, dismissing fears being spread among unions.
“This is a message to the unions: nobody will lose their job. I am pro-union and pro-workers. The unions will not dictate government policy,” he said.
The minister explained that the Port Harcourt Airport, previously unattractive to investors, had drawn renewed interest under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“Before we came in, Port Harcourt was a no-go area. But now, over six investors have shown strong interest. We now have a viable business case approved,” he said.
Keyamo revealed that the Council approved all eight memos presented by his ministry, including the procurement of 15 new firefighting vehicles for the international airports in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu — in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.
Other approvals include the installation of tertiary power supply systems at airports and 14 Very High Frequency (VHF) remote stations managed by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to ensure uninterrupted air navigation services.
The Council also approved a biometric verification system linking passengers’ National Identification Numbers (NIN) to their boarding data for enhanced national security.
“With this system, fake identities will no longer pass through our airports. It aligns with ICAO standards,” Keyamo noted.
Additionally, the FEC approved the construction of a permanent headquarters for NAMA in Abuja, replacing its rented facilities in the capital.
Keyamo further announced a presidential directive prohibiting the sale or transfer of any property owned by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) within or around airport premises.
“This is a public announcement: those who claim to have bought airport lands will not get them. Airports are high-security zones, and we need space for fire and security staff quarters,” he said.
He added that the Council also approved new contracts for runway and perimeter lighting to enable night operations in select airports.
“Some airports close by 6 p.m. due to poor lighting. We want them open until 10 or 11 p.m. to boost airline capacity and revenue,” he explained.
