The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam
Muhammed Bello, has said the FCT Administration is working towards the eventual
relocation of the aboriginal settlers around the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport, Abuja, in order to make way for the Aerotropolis project, which the
federal government is planning under the Nigerian Aviation Sector Roadmap.
Bello gave this assurance on Tuesday when a
delegation from the Aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika, visited him to
discuss the roadmap.
He also disclosed that provisions had been made for
the payment of compensation and resettlement of the inhabitants of these
villages, just as Sirika put the overall number of air passengers that made use
of the country’s airports in 2019 at 18 million from 12 million in 2015.
According to Bello, the FCT was already
anticipating a massive influx of people as projected by the United Nations Habitat
that about 70 percent of the world’s population would migrate to the urban
centres by 2050.
He stressed that efforts were also being made to
link the Abuja airport rail station to the main terminal, adding that the first
set of coaches meant to be used for this purpose had already been shipped out.
According to
him, “What we have presently are coaches that were meant for the trial phase.
But the real coaches in the beautiful Nigerian colour of green and white will
be here shortly, and ultimately before the end of the year, we will have about
12 sets meant to run the entire route from the city up to the airport and with
the spur to Bwari and Idu.
“Also, by the time about two sets of coaches
arrive, we intend to run an ‘Airport Express’ which will take you from the
Abuja Metro Station at the Central Business District to the airport in 18
minutes."
The FCT minister said the FCT would benefit from
the roadmap by the aviation ministry more than any other community in the
country.
“It is a great news because of the multiplier
effects in terms of employment generation, economic activities and of course
the provision of the needed IGR for us either directly or indirectly,” he said.
Sirika appealed for the support and cooperation of
the FCT Administration, especially in the provision of suitable land for the
project.
He said the Nigerian Aviation Sector Roadmap has
been approved by the president and the Federal Executive Council (FEC), adding that
the project entails the national carrier, the maintenance, repair and overhaul
for airplanes to serve the national carrier.
He added that the cargo businesses would take
advantage of the economic activity in the country.
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