By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Director-General Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) Dr Jobson Ewalefoh says many airport projects being constructed by state governors lack commercial viability.
The ICRC Boss stated this at the second Joint Public-Private Partnership Units’ Consultative Forum.
Over N160 billion has been channelled recently by Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Yobe and Jigawa state for airport projects.
Ewalefoh described these allocations, which generate no revenue for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), as a misplaced economic priority.
He said, “When talking about infrastructure, it must be integrated, and we must speak with one voice. For instance, you have airport infrastructure projects going on in almost all the 36 states of the federation. With proper planning, that scenario can be avoided.
“I am from Edo State, there is an airport in the state and another one in Warri, Asaba, and Anambra. Driving through those states with good roads is not up to one hour. So that’s why I think we all need to put our heads together and think of a national planning approach.
“Though we have a document, we can sit down and decide on priority projects to know which is best for one to do.
“Edo can build one project, Delta another one, Warri a different one but with integrated planning, such things can be avoided. We need to discuss at the national and sub-national level because Nigeria is sovereign, and we are one.”
Through integrated projects and collaboration with sub-national bodies, Ewalegoh said the frequency of unfeasible economic ventures would be addressed.
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