Asaba International Airport: Build-up to concession, issues, benefits
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BY CHRIS ALIGBE
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021 is a day that will not escape a chapter in the history of Aviation in Nigeria and a reference, even if obliquely, in Africa.
It was the day the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa presided over the signing of the Concession Agreement of the Asaba International Airport. The Airport is the first Brownfield Airport in Nigeria and indeed Africa.
The Concession model adopted is new and first of its kind which has not been used anywhere globally. This is why it will be a case study and if it succeeds, would most likely ignite a bandwagon adoption.
Asaba Airport stepped out of the shadows of neglect and scorn Tuesday, 23 February, to emerge as the second airport in Nigeria to operate as a concession with the promise of brighter days. First Investment Development Company (FIDC)-MENZIES Aviation (MA) Consortium won the brownfield contract to manage the airport for 30 years on terms that will invest over N28billion to build new facilities and upgrade existing ones. It has a bonus; the new classification of the upgraded airport as international.
Delta State Governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa earns plaudits for pulling through the successful concession deal that the Federal Government has repeatedly failed to secure with the many loss makers that are Nigeriaâs airports. Remarkably, Okowa led Delta State to this deal that positions Asaba Airport to replicate the success story of the Murtala Muhammed Airport2 Lagos run by Bi-Courtney Limited. It holds promise.