22 June 2009
Lagos — Manager of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Mr Chris Bature, yesterday said more than N1.9 billion was generated as revenue at the airport in 2008.
Bature disclosed this in Abuja, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said the figure showed an increase of 9.3 per cent, compared to the N1.7 billion generated in 2007."
We are optimistic that the revenue generated this year will outstrip that of 2008, due to increase in operation of both local and international flights," he said.
Bature, who is also the Regional Manager, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), North Central Region, said more than N1 billion was generated between January and May this year.
He said there was an increase in revenue generation compared to the N930 million that was generated between January and May, 2008.
Bature said aircraft movements for 2008 stood at 41,530 as against 36,806 and 38,544 for 2006 and 2007, respectively.
"For the years 2007 and 2008, the percentage growth was 10.25 per cent and 19.5 per cent respectively.
This shows a steady increase of movements of passengers at the airport which started operations in 1984 with just one airline and a few passengers, but since then, it has continued to witness tremendous growth," he said.
Bature, however, expressed concern that in spite of the tremendous growth, it was still facing a lot of challenges.
According to him, the terminals are over stretched and inadequate for passengers and airlines.
He said the airport also had inadequate manpower, especially in aviation security, airport rescue, fire fighting and other services.
He called for strengthening of the regional structure of FAAN, saying the regions should be given more leverage, to increase revenue generation and collection. "Regions should be empowered to collect revenues and create new sources of revenue, particularly in non- aeronautical areas," he said.
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