The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika on Friday inaugurated two committees to provide general direction and steer the course of Public Private Partnership (PPP) project concessions in the Aviation Sector.
The minister in a statement issued by James Odaudu, the Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs, inaugurated the committees on behave of the Federal Government in Abuja.
He said that the committees known as Project Steering Committee and Project Delivery Committee would kick start the concession process for the nation’s major airports.
According to him, the Federal Government’s resolve to concession the airports are for national interest in ensuring the establishment and sustenance of world class standards in both infrastructural development and service delivery.
Sirika said that the misconception about the concession was not to privatise the airports, noting that the property being concession still remained that of the Federal Government.
“The misgivings some people have expressed concerning the exercise was borne out of misconception that concession is synonymous with privatisation.
“The institutions being concessioned remain the property of the Federal Government which will generate more jobs at the end of the day.’’
According to him, members of the concession process should ensure that all their activities are in compliance with the guidelines of the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
He said that the Project Delivery Committee should approve action plans, budgets, financial requests and serve as the final decision-making body on PPP, concession matters on air transport generally.
Sirika, however, charged members of the committees to be diligent and patriotic in the implementation of the decisions, as their success or failure would determine the fate of the whole process.
Mr Sabiu Zakari, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, responding on behalf of the two committees, pledged their commitment to the assignment, considering the importance attached to it by the Federal Government.
(NAN)
