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.
between content ad –>
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.
In this piece, which is the first of three-part examination of the Asaba International Airport Concession, I intend to look at the Build-up to the 5-year long journey, then the Concession itself and finally the merits, critics, criticisms and critique.
As against known models, where a single Concessionaire is engaged, the Asaba Airport model developed the strategy of engaging one Master Concessionaire and seven Sub-Concessionaires. The Model arose from an incisive analysis of the airport location within both an agrarian and bustling commercial market catchment areas stretching from parts of Edo State through Delta into Anambra State.
More importantly, the decision was driven by the conviction of the State Government that airports are business concerns and can only be better run by those who have the technical knowhow. In addition to these, is the fact that airport development requires huge financial outlay prior to it becoming a profitable venture. Also, the State Government understands the catalytic impact of a well-run airport to the economy of its area of location, Delta State.
The Asaba Airport was a vision of the Okowa’s predecessor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, who ran the state between 2007 and 2015. Uduaghan had a vision of an international airport and had tagged the Airport, International. But the…
Read the full article at www.vanguardngr.com
