FCT hands over 12,000 hectares of land for development of Aviation roadmap projects

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Musa Bello, has handed over the Certificate of Occupancy for 12,000 hectares of land in Abuja to his Aviation counterpart, Senator Hadi Sirika.

The land is for the actualisation of the aviation roadmap projects of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

According to the Director of Planning Research and Statistics of the Federal Ministry of  Aviation, who represented the Minister, Engr. Mohammed Kabiru Shehu, one of the key projects to be executed on the land is the second runway project for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The MD/CE expressed appreciation to the Buhari led Administration and the Hon. Minister of Aviation for promises kept.

The second runway project was awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Nigeria Limited and the site was handed over to the company on the aforementioned date.

Other projects that would be executed as part of the aviation roadmap include: Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Centre; Aviation Leasing Company; Agro-Allied Cargo Terminals; Aerotropolis or Airport City; National Carrier; Africa Aerospace and Aviation University; and second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Some of the benefits that would accrue to Nigeria at the completion of the projects are: employment opportunities for Nigerians; enhanced transfer of technology; increase in foreign exchange earnings/increase in GDP contribution; backward integration of aircraft maintenance and repair facilities for both domestic and international carriers; improvement in Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria; reduction in capital flight; and increase in Bilateral Air Services Agreements with other countries, amongst others.

Present at the hand over ceremony were the MD/CE of the FAAN, Captain Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu, represented by the Director of Human Resources, Honorius Anozie; Acting Director of Aerodrome Development of the Aviation Ministry, Engr. C. Awogbami; Team Lead of the Federal Capital Development  Authority and Executive Secretary, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad; Regional General Manager (North Central)/Airport Manager, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Kabiru Mohammed; and other officials of the Ministry of Aviation, FAAN and FCDA amongst other dignitaries.