KACCIMA bids for Aminu Kano International Airport

A conglomeration of businessmen under the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) in Kano state, the second biggest commercial city in Nigeria have declared their interest to take over the concession of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).

Vice President of KACCIMA, Ambassador Usman Dama stated this during a media briefing at the NUJ Press Center, Kano.

The declaration follows the expression of interest by the Nigerian Government to privatize through concession four (4) of its international Airports across the country, which includes, Abuja, Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Kano International Airports for the period of thirty (30) years.

He said the group is ready to take over the Airport for greater management, efficiency and revenue generation for the state and indeed Nigeria.

“The Kano business community has the capacity to take the property, own and manage it for that period of time for the development of our economy and security of the state. We have the facilities and facilitation to undertake the concession of the Airport,” said Dama.

According to him, the business group expressing interest have assets well over N50 billion naira in Kano and more in Kaduna, Abuja among others to undertake the exercise.

“We have a capital base more than what is required for the concession of MAKIA. In fact, we have the capacity to take over even all the four (4) airports the federal government wants to concession across the country,” assured

He said with reference to the concession guidelines, the stakeholders are ready to bring in foreign partners to be involved in the exercise.

He said there are ready to bring back the past glory of the airport to when it used to have more than 50 airlines operating in the airport.

“Kano International Airport is one of the best in Africa. We want to make it the transit hub of the West African sub-region for passengers going to Asia, Europe and other parts of the world. It will be revived more than what it is now,” he promised.

He said the group will ensure affordability by the poor, of services to be rendered at the airport when it’s handed over to them.

“We will not put unnecessary or excess charges so that it can be affordable by everyone. We cannot speak for the airliners but for the operation we will make them affordable,” he said.

The KACCIMA Vice president said stakeholders including Commercial and private airliners, freight forwarders, hoteliers, tourism operators, marketers and other businesses have been consulted.

“They have expressed their readiness to partner with KACIMA in the exercise,” he said.

He said a committee has been inaugurated by the group to look at the guidelines issued by the Federal government on the acquisition of concession rights of the four major international airports in the country and give further advice. (VON)