Transportation

Group Cautions against Airport Concession

By Web News 689

By Dayo Adu

The Southwest Development Stakeholders Forum, SWDSF, has cautioned against the planned concession of the nation’s airports before the May 29 inauguration of the new administration.

The forum stated that hastening the handover of the airports to private Investors without recourse to due process would plunge the growing aviation sector into industrial disharmony.

In a statement signed by the SWDSF Spokesman, Mr Olalekan Ajia, the forum recalled that the four major airports were concessioned by the Federal Executive Council in 2016 but were marred with controversy bothering on its transparency which it said had yielded unremarkable economic impact.

“We are informed that in 2016, the Federal Executive Council decided to concession four major commercial airports; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, and the Port Harcourt International Airport, ostensibly to attract external or local funding from investors.”

“There are claims that this concession, if it had been handled with transparency, and with due diligence, would have resulted in efficient service delivery, deployment of state-of-the-art terminals, and technology-based facilities from the new investors’ funds and expertise. But there has been a huge controversy surrounding the whole exercise, with key stakeholders labelling it as self-serving and not in the interest of Nigerians. Key stakeholders allege that some of the bidders are mere fronts for some highly placed individuals camouflaging as investors to rip the country off as their own takeaway gifts from the already prostrate Nigerian economy.”

The SWDSF, therefore, urged the Federal Ministry of Aviation to pend the concession process to allow the incoming administration to make input and affect its planned programs on the aviation industry of Nigeria for optimum performance.

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Politics

Forum Warns against Attacks on Banks

By Web News 504

By Dayo Adu

The Southwest Development Stakeholders Forum, SWDSF, has cautioned against destructive protests at commercial banks and other assets in the Southwest region saying such act would hamper the development of the region.

The forum noted that Banks and other assets being burnt and destroyed by angry residents due to naira notes and fuel scarcity contributed to the development of the region through employment and revenue generation, adding that the owners of the affected institutions would incur losses and may lead to job loss.

Speaking through its Chairman, Chief Alao Adedayo, at the presentation of report and documentary of its just concluded Presidential Parley series in Ibadan, the SWDSF explained that its efforts had paid off because the programme would guide the electorates to make  informed decisions on their choices of candidates at the polls

“Burning bank buildings that have beautified your area is a transferred aggression, you’re not fighting the person that you’re supposed to fight. What is happening now is not the case of Southwest or any region, it’s the case of federal government. Once there is the right institution, and right people in governance we are not going to have this type of occurrence, therefore this is the time to choose right. Don’t sell your votes.” He said

Chief Adedayo stated that the Presidential Parley which was held from 17th January to 4th February, featured five presidential candidates out of the seven invited and it afforded the candidates direct interface with ordinary citizens from the southwestern region.

“The Report and Documentary provide insights into the true thinking and pledges of five of the Candidates who participated in the Presidential Parleys namely Alhaji Kola Abiola of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Mr. Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Prince Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).”

“Apart from presenting broad outlines of their manifestos, they addressed the important issue of how they would remove the constitutional impediments to South West integrated Security, Railways and

Waterways, Power infrastructure, and environmentally sustainable exploitation of its Mineral Resources” 

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