REGIONAL Manager, North Central zone of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Chris Bature has said his major point is to expand the Abuja terminal to enhance passengers' comfort and increase the revenue of the government.

Bature, who denied any knowledge of the concessioning of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja however said it was speculated that four international airports including, Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt airports would be handed over to concessionaires for more efficiency and revenue generation.

He said rather than dwelling on the planned concessioning, necessary facilities are being put in place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, to ensure comfort for the intending pilgrims for this year's haji by the management of the airport.

"We have prepared for the hajj operation. Normally, we give them terminal facilities and ensure that they stick to the rules so that we do not have congestion at the airport and passengers not being attended by agents at the airport. So we are fully prepared," he stated.

Bature explained that the management is working towards the transformation and expansion of the airport, especially in the areas of non, aeronautical services in order to boost the revenue base of the airport.

To this end, he said a proposal for the construction of a shopping mall, petrol stations and banks have been received and forwarded to the headquarters for approval.

He also disclosed that there was plan to build three five star hotels at the airport, saying discussion was on-going with interested parties.

According to him, there is hope this year as airport passenger traffic will likely hit three million as against two million in previous years due to the operations of some foreign airlines in the country.

He noted that talks were still on between the FAAN, Associated Airlines and Overland Airlines to start flight operations into Zaria and Jos respectively from Abuja.

Most of these airports have no flight before like Gombe, Minna, Bauchi and Zaria. What we did was to work and encourage airlines to go there. Now we are happy there are flights to Minna, Makurdi, Gombe and we are now working on possibility of flight into Zaria where we have a lot of institutions. We have been discussing with Associated Airline to see the possibility of going Zaria. We are also talking with Overland to provide flight to Jos from Abuja, " he stated.

The regional manager therefore explained that power supply to the airport from the public power source has improved since April this year following the commissioning of dedicated line to the airport.