Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohamed has applauded the infrastructure developments in the Aviation sector saying the completed and ongoing projects embarked upon by the administration can compete with any project in any part of the world.
He said the government was mindful of the standard and quality of infrastructure across the country.
The Minister disclosed this on Monday in Lagos, when he embarked on a facility tour of the newly built terminal 2 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos.
He said the government was also conscious of the maintenance of the facility which gave the idea of giving out the facility management to one of the best outfits.
Mohammed said the present administration has performed creditably in the area of infrastructure provision considering the little resources accruing to the government.
He said the loans collected by the government were put to proper use particularly in erecting state-of-the-art infrastructure.
Lai Mohammed, particularly described the Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, as a testament to the Buhari Administration’s unprecedented infrastructure development across the country.
“This edifice – and the others like it – is a testament to the commitment of the Buhari Administration to the unprecedented infrastructure development covering roads, bridges, rail, water dams, seaports, etc.
“No Administration in the history of Nigeria has done this much, especially at a time of paucity of resources,” he said.
Mohammed said the tour of the new terminal was an exciting experience, adding that the facilities at the airport are comparable to what was obtained anywhere in the world.
“The terminal, which has state-of-the-art facilities and fittings, has the capacity to process 14 million passengers per annum.
“It has 60 check-in counters, 5 baggage claim belts, 16 departure desks and 28 arrival desks,” he said after he was taken on a guided tour of the Terminal.
The Minister also said the terminal has 8 security screening points and 7 Passenger boarding bridges.
“There is a whole new experience in terms of aesthetics, comfort, free trolley services, hotel and premium lounges, friendly customer services and free wifi,” he stated.
Mohammed clarified that the Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, was not built to replace Terminal 1 but to complement it.
“That’s why we were told that you could check in at one terminal and board at the other. So there is a handshake between the two terminals.
“It was the first terminal added to the original terminal since it was built some 40 years ago,” he said.
The Minister, who was accompanied by the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Captain Rabiu Yadudu, and the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Musa Nuhu, was conducted around the check-in area; passport control; screening machines; 22-room hotel; boarding gates; boarding areas; praying area for Muslims and Christians; port health screening; baggage claim area and arrival by the Terminal Manager, Mrs Ojali Ausa.
The Managing Director Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Captain Rabiu Yadudu said the aviation sector is having such infrastructure because of the commitment of the government to complete all abandoned projects.
He said the competence of the aviation sector staff and teamwork is complementing the facility adding that the authority had already agreed with additional 5 Airlines to join Air Peace which is already enjoying the facility.
Also the M.D Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Captain Musa Nuhu responded to some issues, particularly the rumours of an increase in landing and parking costs.
“It is false and misleading information, there is no additional cost like that.
“The last time we increase that was in 2012 and there is nothing like that. It is all a false and mischievous report. “
On the issue of purchasing air tickets with dollars, he said it is also not true, as airlines sell tickets in naira in reality.
He said the Aviation Jet A1 fuel scarcity is globally occasioned by the Russian invasion of Ukraine but assured that the Nigerian government was doing all it can to fix the crisis.
Particularly reference was made to the Dangote upcoming refinery which he was optimistic that once it comes on stream a lot would change for good in the oil and gas sector.
PIAK
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