Just In: Reps to suspend concession of airports

The House of Representatives made a decision to halt the concession of airports in Nigeria, a plan that was pursued by the previous government under President Muhammadu Buhari.

The resolution came about as a result of a motion presented by Kama Nkemakonam, titled “Need to Investigate the Concession of Airports in Nigeria,” during the plenary session.

Nkemakonam, while presenting the motion, highlighted that the most profitable airports in Nigeria were handed over to foreign firms through resolutions by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), which deviated from established laws and lacked transparency and public accountability.

The lawmaker expressed concern that the opaque concession only benefited a select few unpatriotic Nigerians and their foreign partners, while Nigerian citizens suffered, and the public infrastructure was effectively controlled by foreigners for many decades.

He further pointed out the ongoing controversies surrounding major airports in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano, due to personal interests that undermined the laws of the land, despite the efforts of anti-corruption agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

Nkemakonam expressed dismay that these airports, after almost seven decades in the industry, were reduced to mere airstrips, unable to compete with globally renowned airports like Heathrow, Dubai, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Qatar, Vancouver, and others.

He also noted that compared to other African countries, such as South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia, Nigeria’s aviation sector lagged behind in terms of development and growth.

The motion was unanimously adopted by the House, and it was decided that the committee on aviation, once constituted, would investigate the concessions of Nigerian airports and provide a report for further legislative action.