THE BUHARI LED FEDERAL GOVT. IS COMMITTED TO CLOSING THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT IN THE ECONOMY – Yakubu Henrietta V.

By O. E. Wisdom The GM- Corporate Affairs, Federal Airport Authorityof Nigeria, Ms. Yakubu Henrietta V. yesterday, 30th April, 2019 in a media chat at the 2nd edition of the Institute of Tourism Professionals Gala Night Award Dinner says the Buhari led federal gov’t. is committed to closing the infrastructure deficite in the tourism sector particularly and others with the aim of revamping the economy. She asserts that transportation is the venhicle upon which tourism revolve hence, the collaborative strategy of tourism and transportation then applauds the several milestones achievement of Mr. President in the area of transportation ranging from aviation, rail, roads etc especially the new national carrier/terminal which she said will further the ethos of tourism in the country. “The Buhari led Administration recognises aviation as a catalyst for tourism development and economic growth and as such has continued to encourage and support the actualization of projects that will place Nigerian Airports amongst the best in the world,” he said. When asked on the attitudinal disposition of aviation staff to tourists since they are most time the first contact points and persons of those who traveled by air, she said aviation staff are trained to be patriotic, friendly and manner with the utmost warm and receptive ambience that will encourage travellers and leave them with the beauty of hospitality that Nigeria and Nigerians are known for however, stress the the need to step it up by training drivers and others to ensure tourism friendly disposition while rendering services. ” I am optimistic and confident that with the reelection of Mr. President whose commitment and political will to close the Infrastructure deficit in the country has been demonstrated and proven with substantiality of milestones achievement in building infrastructures which is key to tourism and the overall development of the nation will in his second tenure close all infrastructure deficit in the country” On the award of Outstanding Leadership in Airport Management and Operational Efficiency for the year 2018 given to Engr. Sale Dunoma (MD/CEO, FAAN) by the Institute for Tourism Professionals, she said ” it is over due and well deserving”   Earlier on the new national carrier, M. L. Sani, Regional General Manager/ Airport Manager said that from both political and economic perspectives, the Abuja airport is very strategic not only because it is the gateway to the nations capital but also because it is the second busiest airport in the country. Recall that Abuja airport is the fastest growing in passenger traffic in West and Central Africa, with an average growth rate of 8%, where the world average growth is 5.8% and processed 5,709,012 passengers in 2017 which equals to about 13 times the total number of passengers recorded by Ghana as a country . The terminal with an annual passenger capacity of 15 million covering a space of approximately 56,000m2 has 72 check-in counters, five baggage collection carousels, 28 immigration desks at arrival and 16 at departure. Other features are eight security screening points, eight passenger boarding bridges, walkway to link the FCT metro rail, additional apron for remote parking of aircraft and a linkway to the domestic wing. On the Economic value of the terminal, M. L. Sani said, the terminal economic value can not be over emphasis both to Nigeria and Nigerians describing the edifice as a hub of economic activities saying it will help to revamp the economy in line with the economic recovery policy of the federal government and definitely strategic to tourism development, he said.