New Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport: “Our Promise Has Been Kept” -PMB (photos)
by Oru Leonard
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the APC led Federal Government of Nigeria has kept her promise on Aviation services delivery.
PMB stated this on Thursday when he inaugurated the new Terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja which was in line with his administration’s promise to inaugurate the project before the end of Dec. 2018.
Speaking at the event, Buhari assured that the Federal Government would remain committed to developing Nigeria to regional air transportation hub, thereby assuming its leadership in the aviation sub-sector in Africa.
He recalled that the promise to inaugurate the project was made on Oct. 25 when he inaugurated Port Harcourt International Airport Terminal in Rivers.
“You will recall that on the 25 October, 2018, I commissioned Port Harcourt International Airport Terminal.
“During the event, the Honourable Minister of State (Aviation) stated that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Terminal, Abuja, would be completed and ready for commissioning before the end of the year.
“Today, that promise has been kept. I wish to commend the Honourable Minister and his team for a job well done. 
President Buhari said that with the inauguration of the Terminal, Nigeria was moving towards achieving and meeting global aviation standards in facilitation, passenger processing and service delivery in tandem with international best practices.
“This Administration recognises aviation as a catalyst for economic growth and as such will continue to encourage and support the actualisation of projects that will place Nigerian Airports amongst the best in the world.
“This event today, reflects Government’s deliberate policy to sustain the development of Nigeria’s infrastructure.
“We are gradually closing the infrastructural deficit bedeviling our country.” he said.
President Buhari expressed delight at the progress being made in both the airports and sea ports on the implementation of the Executive Order on the Ease of Doing Business.
He, therefore, challenged government officials manning these gateways at the airports and sea ports to sustain the momentum and ensure travellers in and out of the country have the best of experience as a necessary complement to the ultra-modern terminal.
The president said the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Terminal, Abuja, was the first airport terminal to be connected to rail transport system in the country and in the region, which has provided passengers and other airport users with a choice in the mode of transport to and from the city centre.
“I recall taking a ride from the City Metro station to the Airport on the day the rail line was commissioned,’’ he said.
The president commended the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Transportation (Aviation), the Government of the Peoples Republic of China and the China Exim Bank for their financial support and the various roles they played leading to the successful completion of the project.
He also commended the contractor, Messrs CCECC, for delivering the project on time.
