The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Senator Hadi Sirika, on Monday, inaugurated the expansion of the first phase of the General Aviation Terminal, which costs N2.2bn.
The project, which was executed by Glovesly Pro-Project Limited, has increased the capacity of the terminal from 254 to 1,024 passengers.
During the inauguration, Sirika emphasised that the project was initiated to address the long-standing challenge of limited capacity at the terminal.
The Minister said, “You will agree with me that the geometric increase in population of Nigeria, which resulted in increase in passenger volume, has overwhelmed available facilities at this terminal and as part of efforts to address this challenge, the Federal Government at some point developed the Zulu terminal to complement the existing old terminal, but the capacity limitation situation still persisted.
“Oftentimes, particularly at peak periods, you will observe that facilities in this terminal are usually overstretched because the volume of passengers using the facilities far outweighs the capacity available.”
According to him, the government evaluated the situation, and decided to expand the terminal, as a short-term measure to address the situation, adding that it was the intention of the ministry to build a new and much bigger domestic terminal in the nearest future.
“The facility we are inaugurating today is a product of that thought, and it is only the first phase of the project. As soon as we put this to use, we hope that the incoming administration will continue with the construction of the second phase.
“As you will be seeing in due course, this facility contains brand-new protocol lounges, airline office spaces, and VIP lounges, with the complement of conveniences that will enhance the safety, security and comfort of our esteemed passengers,” he enunciated.
The Minister lauded that contractor for the timely completion of the first phase of the project, which began early last year.
Sirika expressed confidence that the facility would improve passenger facilitation at the terminal and contribute to increased revenue generation for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
He noted that the inauguration of the expanded General Aviation Terminal marked a significant milestone in the efforts to address the capacity challenges faced by the terminal.
According to him, as the aviation industry continues to evolve, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace remains committed to improving infrastructure and enhancing the overall passenger experience for the benefit of all stakeholders.
The expanded terminal boasts brand-new protocol lounges, airline office spaces, VIP lounges, and modern conveniences, all aimed at enhancing the safety, security, and comfort of passengers.
The expansion features a central air conditioning unit, fire alarm and sprinklers, and an aviation mini clinic.