Nigeria’s Abuja airport terminal expansion to be completed in 2014

The ongoing Abuja Airport terminal expansion project in Nigeria is expected to be completed in December 2014 when it will also be opened for operation.

This was revealed by the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala during an inspection. He was accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, from the Chinese construction firm (CCECC) who are currently executing the Abuja Airport terminal expansion project and have taken it to 30% completion.

On the same note, the ongoing US$849m Federal Capital Transport Authority (FCTA) light rail project is also expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2015.

The Federal Government has embarked on improving most of the nation’s airport terminals across the country through various remodeling and expansion works in view of bringing them to international standards.

In a statement, Dr. Okonjo Iweala said: “We took a loan of US$500m from the Exim Bank of China representing the Chinese government in order to construct Modern Terminals in this country, this is something we need and we have four outstanding terminals of Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt in mind, the expansion works are ongoing.” She further explained that, the government is similarly constructing the Enugu and Bayelsa terminals from the government’s internal funding.

According to the Executive Secretary, Transportation Secretariat of the FCTA Jonathan Iyoke, the Abuja Airport terminal expansion scheme, when completed, will connect the city centre to the satellite towns in the country.