President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime has announced its preferred and reserve bidders for Nigerian airports concession. Aviation minister Hadi Sirika informed journalists about the preferred bidders on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to him, the bidder for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, is Corporacion America Airports Consortium. The ENL Consortium was selected as the reserve bidder for NAIA.

Mr Sirika disclosed that the preferred bidder for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, is TAV/NAHCO/Project Plant Limited (PPL) Consortium. Sifax/Changi Consortium was selected as the reserve bidder for MMIA.

The minister further revealed that Corporacion America Airports Consortium is the preferred bidder for the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano. There are no reserve bidders for MAKIA as of press time. Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) did not receive any proposals when the request for proposal deadline closed.

“The federal government, in line with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act, 2005, and global best practices are ready to inform all stakeholders, local and international development partners and the media on development regarding airports’ concession,” explained the aviation minister. “The request for proposals phase of the Nigeria Airports Concession Programme (NACP) came to a close on the 19 of September 2022.”

Mr Sirika also mentioned that the aviation ministry was consulting the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and other stakeholders for the fourth airport asset, which did not receive bids.

“The next stage of the programme is the negotiations and due diligence stage, during which the ministry will invite preferred bidders to enter detailed negotiations with its representatives, with a view to developing a Full Business Case (FBC) before onward transmission to ICRC for review and approval,” he explained. 

He further stated that only after a successful conclusion of the negotiation and due diligence stage “will the FBC and all other approvals be presented before the Federal Executive Council for final approval by the federal government.”

(NAN)