The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of N3.04 billion for the procurement and installation of taxi lighting systems and photometric patterns at three major airports in the country.
FEC awarded the contract for the procurement and installation of taxi lighting system, and photometric pattern for Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja, and some other equipment all over the country. The contract was awarded with seven and half percent VAT to be completed within a 12 months period.
This was revealed on Monday by the Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, after FEC meeting in Abuja. He hinted the contractor for the installation is KSR3 Global Nigeria Limited.
“So today in council, something very significant has happened in the world of civil aviation. Part of our roadmap, the Aviation Leading company has been established and approved by the council,” the minister said.
Based on this, he noted that entrepreneurs and civil aviation will have access to lease equipment at affordable rates within the country and that this is part of a roadmap.
“So the roadmap is gradually coming to 100 per cent completion. So I’m glad to see the full business case has been approved by the FEC,” Mr Sirika said.
The key components of the aviation sector roadmap consist of concession of four airports and establishment of a national carrier, Nigeria Air.
It also involves the development of agro filled/cargo terminals and establishment of maintenance, repairs and overhaul centres.
Other components of the roadmap are establishment of an aviation leasing company, development of aerotropolis (Airport cities), establishment of an aerospace university and improvement in aviation safety and security through upgrades and modernisation of aviation infrastructure and facilities.
At the ongoing second edition of the FAAN National Aviation Conference in Abuja, Mr Sirika, who was represented by the aviation ministry’s permanent secretary, Emmanuel Meribole, in his remark affirmed that all aviation roadmap components were at the finishing lines.
“Undoubtedly, we have met with lots of brick walls and bureaucratic bottlenecks, yet we forged ahead decisively and now all the components are at the finishing lines, the foundation having been solidly laid,” he said.
This is evident in the numerous projects embarked upon, from several runway construction and rehabilitation projects to new international terminals completed and commissioned.
“World class safety and security equipment and facilities procured and deployed to our airports, recruitment, training, and capacity building for our staff among numerous others,” Mr Sirika said.
