New Lagos airport terminal will create additional 3000 jobs, says President Buhari
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has said the new terminal at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, will create additional 3000 direct and indirect jobs in the aviation industry.
Speaking at the commissioning of the terminal on Tuesday in Lagos, the President said he was confident that the new terminal, which has 66 check-in counters, 16 desks at the arrival hall, 28 desks at the departure lounge, and 8 security screening points, among other designated areas needing skilled personnel, will go a long way in contributing to the socio-economic and prosperity of the country.
According to the President, the new terminal shows the commitment of his administration towards infrastructural development across key sectors of the economy despite financial challenges.
“This event showcases our strong commitment to the growth of the Nigerian economy despite the challenge of finance facing the country.
“This improvement will increase airport operations and management services to about 14 million passengers per annum, with the attendant positive multiplier effects, by creating about 3,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities for our youths, increased inflow of foreign direct investments, and exponential growth in the gross domestic product.
“We have also complemented these robust initiatives with specific fiscal policies to drive aviation infrastructure renaissance.
“These include the designation of 4 airports, namely Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt as free trade zones, in which customs duty is not applicable; removal of value-added tax on all forms of shared transportation, including air transportation; and exemption of commercial aircraft and spare parts from VAT payment.
“Similar projects at both the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Port Harcourt International Airport were completed and commissioned by this administration and our people have since been benefiting from the positive economic impacts of those magnificent terminals.
“The one in Kano has also been completed and will be commissioned soon, while work continues apace to complete that of Enugu shortly,” the President said.
The new Lagos terminal has the capacity to process 14 million passengers per annum. It is built on a landmass of approximately 56,000 square metres.
Other facilities in the terminal include five baggage collection carousels, six-passenger boarding bridges, two food courts, four premium lounges, and 22 guest rooms and a spa.
Also, the terminal has16 airline ticketing offices, a visa on arrival, and a port health facility, as well a praying area, more than 3,000 square metres of duty-free space, and approximately 5,000 square metres of lettable utility space.
The terminal was built by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
The project was initiated by the former Minister for Aviation, Stella Odua, during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Federal Government had secured a $500 million loan deal from the Exim Bank of China for the construction of four new terminals at four international airports – Kano, Port Harcourt, Abuja, and Lagos.
It is noteworthy that part of the deal included a counterpart funding of $100 million, which was added by the Nigerian Government.
The projects, which commenced in 2013, were to be completed within 20 months but the timeline has long lapsed due to financial challenges.
