Reps vows resistance to airports concession, fumes over Minister’s absence at Committee

The House of Representatives on Monday vowed it would resist concession plans of Nigeria’s airports by the Federal Government, until certain issues are addressed

The House Committee disclosed that it has been awashed with petitions from various quarters, suggesting that the planned concession were surreptitious.

They further berated the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika for his unexplained absence from the Committee, noting that the development was not healthy for the parliamentary oversight.

Meanwhile, the Federal government has moved for concession of four airports to private investors viz: “Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt”, which are of international status.

The Chairman of House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji faulted the concession plan being pushed by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, saying, the process lacked transparency in its entirety.

He stressed: “Among the concerns were the lack of transparency in the exercise, labour issues, the Chinese loans, the legal issues that may arise from the existing concessions and the lack of proper valuation of the present status of the affected airports, among others.

“Based on the outcome of the meeting with the labour unions, the committee invited the Minister of Aviation and the heads of agencies under him to discuss the issue of the airports’ concession. Several dates were fixed for the meeting but for one reason or the other, they failed to attend.

“In view of this, the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation hereby requests that the concession of the four airports should be put on hold pending the resolution of the contentious issues raised by the unions and other stakeholders to avoid industrial actions that may further cripple the already distressed industry.”

CAPITAL POST recalls that various union at the airports have objected to concession moves by the Federal Government.