In a significant development, the Nigerian Senate has passed crucial legislation authorizing an investigation into the concession of Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and several other international airports across the country.
This move comes after Senator Sumaila Kawu (NNPP, Kano South) tabled a motion during the Senate session, highlighting the flawed foundation upon which the concession was based.
Senator Kawu emphasized that a comprehensive examination of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Act and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) procedures manual revealed glaring irregularities in the concession process.
He argued that the Federal Ministry of Aviation neither owns nor operates any airports in Nigeria, as per the governing Act of FAAN. The ownership and management of all federal government airports are unequivocally vested in FAAN.
Adding to the controversy, Senator Kawu drew attention to the Federal Executive Council’s decision on May 17th to grant a 30-year concession of the Aminu Kano International Airport to Messrs Corporation America Airports Consortium.
He deemed this decision misguided and asserted that it nullifies the entire concession process. Senator Kawu expressed deep concern that the upfront concession fee of $1.5 million Nigeria received pales in comparison to the total revenue of $97.4 million generated by the Kano airport.
Consequently, the Senate unequivocally condemned the concession of these airports and passed the legislation to initiate an investigation into the matter.
Before hitting the gravel, the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, noted that concession was the best way to move forward as it was one of the best practices all over the world.
Barau noted that although the concession was good, it must be done in a transparent manner rather than being shrouded in secrecy as was done in the previous administration under the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
The Senate’s decision to investigate the faulty concession of Nigerian airports reflects the commitment of the legislative body to safeguard the interests of the country and promote good governance.
As the investigation unfolds, it is anticipated that the Senate’s findings will shed light on the irregularities and pave the way for fair and transparent concession processes in the future.
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