Following weeks of hue and cry in the Nigerian aviation industry over foreign airlines trapped funds amounting to about $464 million, the federal government, Monday, disclosed that modalities are currently being worked out to resolve the impasse.
While on a tour of the new international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed told journalists that all relevant government bodies have been given the order to ensure the matter is brought to a close within the shortest time.
Recall the International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently took a swipe at the federal government for not allowing the $464million proceeds of ticket sales by foreign airlines operating into the country be repatriated to their home countries.
While some have made public plans to restrict flights operations into Nigeria, United Arab Emirates carrier- Emirates Airlines had made its decision to suspend the lucrative Nigeria routes effective September 1, 2022.
Also, the minister affirmed that the $500 million loan secured from the Chinese Import Export Bank for the construction of five international airport terminals in Lagos, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano would be repaid as agreed with the Chinese consortium.
The Minister said : “the Federal Government is aware of the issue and action is being taken. I can assure you that relevant authorities are working on it. Very soon the matter will be resolved.”
He said: “This new terminal at the Lagos International Airport is a world class edifice put together with the collaboration of Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China. With the capacity to process 14 million passengers annually, it is an exciting travel experience with facilities in any airport, anywhere in the world.”
According to him, “There is a whole new experience in terms of aesthetics, comfort and friendly customer service. This edifice and the others is a testament to the commitment of the Buhari administration’s unprecedented infrastructure development covering roads, bridges, rail, water dams and sea ports.
“No administration in the history of Nigeria has done this much, especially at a time of scarce resources.”
Also, he said the federal government has concluded plans to relocate five foreign carriers into the new terminal from September 1, 2022.
Out of the eight carriers that indicated their interest, the minister explained that five have been cleared, putting into consideration many parameters.
Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),Captain Hamisu Yadudu said expansion work on the aviobriges are ongoing and assured that the authority is working round the clock to fix and calibrate facilities at the new terminal to attract many operators and investors.
Such is a huge sum.