Home NEWS We’ll Soon Relocate Abuja Indigenes From Around Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport –...

We’ll Soon Relocate Abuja Indigenes From Around Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport – Minister

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has announced the move to relocate aboriginal settlers around the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to enable the expansion of the airport base.
The minister, who received the Aviation minister in audience today, March 10, said that provisions have been made for the payment of compensation and resettlement of the inhabitants of the villages.
Muhammad Musa Bello said that efforts are being made to link the Abuja Airport rail station to the main terminal, adding that the first set of coaches meant to be used for the purpose have been shipped already.
“What we have presently are coaches that are meant for the trial phase. But the real coaches in the beautiful Nigerian colour of green, white, green will be here shortly and ultimately, before the end of the year, we will have like 12 sets meant to run the entire route from the city up to the airport and with the spur to Bwari and Idu.
“Ultimately, by the time about two sets of coaches arrive, we intend to run an Airport Express which will just take you from the Abuja Metro Station at the Central Business District to the airport in 18 minutes”.
“Basically, what I’m just trying to say is that the FCT Administration is very conscious of your aviation roadmap and we are doing complementary infrastructure to be able to key into that.”
The Minister, who commended the Aviation Ministry for the good work it is doing to reposition the aviation sector said that the FCT Administration will give all the needed support to the aviation roadmap, adding that FCT stands to benefit from the project, more than any other community in the country.
“It is very good news because of the multiplier effects in terms of employment generation, economic activities and of course also, providing needed IGR for us, either directly or indirectly.”
The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had said that the overall air passengers had risen from 12 million in 2015 to 18 million.
He said that the number of air passengers in the FCT has also increased from two million to five million within the same time period and could further rise to eight million by the time a national carrier becomes operational.
He appealed for the support and cooperation of the FCT Administration, especially in the provision of suitable land for this project.
“In driving the roadmap of aviation which has been approved by Mr. President and by the FEC, we have the national carrier, we have the maintenance, repair and overhaul for airplanes to serve the national carrier, we have the cargo businesses that will take advantage of the economic activity in the country, we have the Aerotropolis around the city of Abuja, we have the free zone status that we applied for and we are sure will be granted to make Abuja airport a free zone, he said

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