Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the newly completed terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Lagos on Tuesday, Buhari said: “Bearing in mind the importance of airport infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth, foreign direct investment and development globally, this administration decided to prioritise the completion and delivery of five brand new international terminals which were at 11 percent completion level when we came into power in 2015.
“This aligns perfectly with our aviation roadmap which was developed in 2016 for the purposes of establishing critical infrastructure including a national carrier, maintenance, repairs and overhaul centre and improved airport terminals through concession to boost aviation practice and take the industry to the next level reflecting global standards.
“We have also complemented these robust initiatives with specific fiscal policies to drive aviation infrastructure renaissance. This include the designation of four airports – Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt as free trade zones in which Customs duty does is not applied. Removal of VAT on all forms of shared transportation including air transportation and exemption of commercial aircraft and spare parts from VAT payment. Similar projects at both Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Port Harcourt International Airport were completed and commissioned by this administration and our people have since been benefitting from the positive economic impact of these magnificent terminals.”
According to him, airport in Kano has also been completed and will be commissioned soon, while work continues to complete that of Enugu shortly.
“I therefore congratulate all Nigerians on the successful completion and commissioning of the terminal building of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, our premier airport,” he said.
According to the airport officials, the new MMIA Terminal,
which comprises a four-storey Main Terminal Building, three-storey Finger Building, two-storey Cargo Terminal Building, 82,925sqm apron, and external and ancillary works, is expected to handle 20 million passengers a year.
The terminal also has about 60 sets of check-in counters and six boarding bridges. The terminal is one of five being built in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu, in a bilateral arrangement between the Nigeria and China.
GIK/APA