Nothing will stop the concession of major airports- Aviation Minister

Employees of the Federal Airport’s Authority of Nigeria have protested plans by the Nigerian Government to concession major airports in the country.

Consequent upon this, members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals and Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association organised a protest.

During the protest at Freedom Square, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, the Chairman of ATSSAN, Ahmed Danjuma, kicked against government’s directive to return all staff that retired from April 1, 2014 to Pension managers.

He said “the concession plan will force many staff into retrenchment while the future of those retired may not be assured”.

He revealed that the present Managing Director of FAAN, Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu, was intentionally appointed to pave way for the easy sale of the organisation.

Danjuma further accused the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, of threatening to subdue protesting workers with Federal might.

He said, “It is also noteworthy that Hadi Sirika in a meeting with aviation union threatened to attack protesters with police and that protest will not last more than three months at the most.” 

He further said “Sirika had vowed that nothing will stop him from concessioning the four major airports including the Muritala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, Abuja airport, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, and Port Harcourt International Airport”.