News: Over 1.5M Jobs from Five Airports' Terminals

The construction industry, the world over, is a huge job spinner. Reports have shown that the ongoing construction of five international airport terminals in Lagos, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kano and Abuja, could create direct and indirect jobs for over 1.5 million people.

The projects are being handled by the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) under a deal by the Federal Government and the Republic of China. Many countries initiate construction projects because of the massive jobs they create for their nationals.

This is also predicated on the fact that construction as a composite activity, requires the input and efforts of various professionals to complete. The masterpieces are drawn by architects and others engaged in construction, electrical and other activities.

According to experts, construction activities in the aviation sector hold the key to job provision for many professionals, thus creating multiplier effects.

The construction of these terminals comes as a fallout of about $500 million loan the Federal Government secured from the Chinese Export Import Bank. The government is providing a counterpart funding of over $100 million to see the projects to fruition.

Experts believe that the volume of work involved in the construction of five international airport terminals will create thousands of jobs and continue to create jobs even after completion.

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, where construction work is ongoing, hundreds of jobs are being created for architects, civil engineers, bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers, concrete mixers, truck and crane as well as fork-lift drivers.

There are also welders, tillers, electricians, and other building artisans, who carry out activities at the site. The projects are part of realisation of Federal Government’s efforts to boost critical infrastructure. The government signed an agreement for a $600 million facility with the China Exim Bank for two high priority, high impact projects expected to be completed by next year.

Explaining the rationale for prioritising the projects, the Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Okonjo-Iweala, said the projects are targeted at making a difference in the lives of Nigerians across the socio-economic segments. She said: “President Goodluck Jonathan is keeping his promise to Nigerians through these important projects. And the four new airport terminals will, like the others, create jobs and also ensure that Nigerian air passengers enjoy the services and convenience their counterparts in other parts of the world take for granted.

“The new airport terminals will help Nigeria achieve the status of a hub on the continent and deepen employment generation in the sector. The terminals will also help to grow passenger capacity to over 50 million from the current 20 million and increase the number of direct and indirect jobs in the sector to 1.5 million from the current 60,000....”

A document prepared by the Ministry of Aviation indicated that when the airport terminals are completed, it would provide additional jobs for aviation and other related professionals. The document said: “We project that by the time the Aerotropolis Project is completed, additional 80,000 - 100,000 job opportunities would have been created.

“We project that the aviation industry will contribute an additional N300 billion to the economy directly and indirectly. This will come from additional investments, construction of the infrastructure and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the industry.

“Overall, we project that the Aviation Industry will in future make a net Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution of over N500 billion to the nation’s economy annually and will support more than 200,000 jobs in Nigeria.”

It continued: “Nigerian registered airlines directly employ 7,000 people and support through their supply chains a further 33,000 jobs. These include ground handlers, aviation fuel suppliers, catering service providers.

“The industry as a whole directly contributes about N11O billion to the economy and indirectly another N67 billion. A further N21 billion comes from the spending of the employees of the industry and their suppliers. Overall, the aviation industry contributes over N200 billion to the Nigerian economy annually and supports more than 70,000 jobs in Nigeria. This is a key element of the National Aviation Transformation Road Map for the industry.

“It represents our determination to ensure that our airports impact significantly, not just on the host communities, but also on the national economy. Though at the preliminary stage, we are developing land use plans for Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano to guide the Aerotropolis developments.”

In an interview with The Nation, the Chairman of Prime Ports Logistics, Mr. Femi Adewunmi described the construction of more airport terminals as a huge window to generate jobs for aviation professionals. According to him, it will not only generate jobs, but serve as an avenue to position any region in the country as an economic hub.

He cited an example of the construction of an additional terminal at the Port Harcourt International Airport, which he said, would attract more professionals into the industry.

Speaking in the same vein, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Saleh Dunoma, said the airports would need more personnel by the time the ongoing projects are completed.

He listed the category of personnel to include aviation security; aerodrome rescue and fire safety officers; aerodrome engineers; baggage handlers and other professionals.

“The new terminals under construction at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport will boost commercial activity and generate jobs in Kano,” Dunoma said while inspecting work at the construction site in Kano.

The airport when completed, he said, will further expand the potential of the ancient city as a hub of commerce and industry.

A member of the Aircraft Owners Association of Nigeria (AOAON), Alhaji Ibn Na’Allah, who spoke on the same issue, described the Dutse International Airport as an air transport infrastructure that would jump-start the economic development of the area. The former House of Representatives member said airports play a key role in the development of their host states.

He said: “The Dutse Airport for instance, is a world class facility. I think it is very important. It helps to generate jobs for teeming professionals. A lot of people don’t understand the economic importance of airports as an avenue to generate jobs. Airport is one of the strongest security and economic infrastructure for any community.

“Airports play an important role in regional economic development. If a city is equipped with an efficient airport, including extensive passenger and cargo links, it would certainly have comparative advantage in creating additional jobs. Cities and airports can try to attract economic development through airport business parks.’

He added: “Transport infrastructure provides defined channels of movement for the physical interaction of goods and people between places. The flow of goods and people is the crux of economic functioning and it is possible with transport infrastructure. The functioning of an economy requires the use of transport. Apart from the direct employment generated by the airport, there is indirect employment associated with activities that support the airport, airlines and passengers.”

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Overland Airways, Capt. Edward Boyo, said the construction of airport terminals is one of the key drivers of jobs creation, because a galaxy of professionals work at the airport.

However, some professionals would need to horn their skills in fixing state-of-the-art facilities at the terminal in line with global standards. Part of this would require certification as airport managers, baggage handlers, operations personnel and other professionals require further knowledge in safety management systems.

Source: The Nation