How Government Can Conclude Airports Masterplan, Halt Reckless Lands Acquisition, By ABSE MD
The Managing Director of Airports Business Summit & Expo (ABSE), Mr. Fortune Idu has called on the Federal Ministry of Aviation & Aerospace Development “to conduct a comprehensive land-use assessment that will identify land-use cases that can free up airport land. This assessment will then inform the conclusions of the airports master plan and halt the reckless acquisition of airport land by government agencies.”
In his welcome address at the 10th ABSE held at NIGAV Centre, Murtala Muhammed Airport yesterday, Idu said: “As we make concerted efforts to get the airport on the right track for sustainable growth, it is disheartening to see the deterioration of the airports land infrastructure and the unplanned partition and allocation of federal airport space.
It is unfortunate to note that the federal airports have more tanker farms and fuel contractors than the aircraft and airlines operating in the country, and one wonders why. Every fuel depot wants a space at the airport. This does not necessarily generate additional revenue for the airport, but it does introduce additional risk and space constraints.
It is also sad that many government agencies are acquiring prime airport locations and spreading structures all over the airport space, creating clusters and congestion that gives the impression that the airport is full. This is one of the biggest threats to airport development, future expansion, business and value to the nation.
The airport’s gestation period is 25 years, and those who see empty airport lands should not consider it available land. The future of the airport and the prosperity of the state depend on that so-called available land. Airports are special economic zones. The development, financial structure and process cannot be spontaneous. It must be planned, preconceived and programmed. It is called a designed built environment.”
In his speech, the Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Ibrahim Kana said Nigeria’s “Airport Development Master Plan is aligned with national economic priorities and regional development goals.”
Theme of this year’s ABSE is Investment Opportunities In Airport Public-Private Partnerships.
