The ongoing construction work on the new terminal for Abuja airport-Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is 80% complete. The airport is slated to be opened in January 2018; this is according to the Nigerian state officials.
The project construction is being spearheaded by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in partnership with the Nigerian government. The terminal is being built at a cost of US $200m.
Also read: Construction work begins on the Murtala Muhammed Airport Road in Nigeria
However, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) certification Teams has already issued Abuja airport an Aerodrome certification.
Apart from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport terminal, Nigeria has other mega projects in the pipeline. The country’s Senate has already approved a US$5.5bn loan request presented by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Other projects
Some of the projects that the money will help support include: Mambila Hydropower Project, construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, as well as counterpart funding for rail projects and the construction of the Bodo- Bonny road with a bridge across the Opobo channel.
About Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (IATA: ABV, ICAO: DNAA) is an international airport serving Abuja, in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. It is the main airport serving the Nigerian capital city and was named after Nigeria’s first President, Nnamdi Azikiwe. The airport is approximately 20km west of Abuja, and has an international and a domestic terminal that share its single runway.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has its head office on the airport grounds. The Abuja non-directional beacon (Ident: AG) is 3.1 km off the threshold of Runway 22. The Abuja VOR-DME (Ident: ABC) is 2.4 km off the same runway.
The airport was built in 2000 and opened in 2002. In November 2006 the Abuja Gateway Consortium signed an US $101.1m contract for the management of the airport over the next 25 years. The contract included the construction of an airport hotel, private car parks, shopping malls, and a bonded warehouse, totaling US $50m during its first five years, and additionally an upfront payment of US $10m. According to the business plan, total investments will have amounted to US $371m during the period of the contract. However, then-President Yar’Adua revoked the contract in April 2008.
However, plans were invited for the construction of a second runway. The contract was awarded to Julius Berger Construction Company for US $423m, but was revoked due to the high cost. The Federal Government approved fresh bids for the construction of the second runway.
Extract from constructionreviewonline.com