…As World Bank approves $240m for Bangladesh marine fisheries project***
President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the $600 million new international terminal at the Port Harcourt International Airport, constructed by China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) and funded by the Export-Import Bank of China and the Nigerian Government.
The company is also constructing new terminals in Abuja, Kano and Lagos International Airports..
Buhari said the new international terminal would address the increasing international air travel needs of the country, adding that the increase in population had also added impetus.
He said that since the existing terminals in all the major airports in the country were opened in late 1970s and early 1980s, not much had been done to increase their handling capacities by successive administrations
The president said that the completion of the project was in line with his administration’s commitment to completing all ongoing projects initiated by his predecessors in the transport sector.
“I am very pleased to formally commission the new international terminal of the Port Harcourt Airport, Omagwa today.
“This ceremony represents a significant land mark for international air travelers, especially from the South-South region and the entire country.
“You will recall that after the opening of the major airport terminals in the country in the late 70s and early 1980s, not too much was added to increase the passenger handling capacity by successive administrations.
“Following the large increase in the number of passengers and air passenger travel, the terminal became grossly inadequate to cater for the increasing passenger travel.
“Although, palliative measures were periodically carried out on facilities to repair the wear and tear.
“The Federal Government is responding to global trend of which aviation has become a catalyst for economic growth and facilitates the movement of persons,” he said.
Buhari said the construction of four international terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano were embarked upon by the Federal Government with a view to modernising the aging airport infrastructure, maintaining the global aviation standard and improved service delivery in tandem with international best practices.
He expressed confidence that the new terminal would help to enhance the economic activities in the state and commended the people of the state for their patience during the construction period.
In his remarks, Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers, said the people of the state and the entire Niger Delta region were happy that the project was completed and inaugurated.
According to Wike, what has happened today shows that the state is safe for people to come and invest.
He said the state government was ready to partner with the Federal Government to develop transport infrastructure in the state.
Wike commended the Federal Government for the completion of the new terminal building.
The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, said the project was executed in partnership with the Chinese Government involving 500 million dollars loan from Chen Exim Bank and 100 million dollars counterpart funding from the Nigerian government.
Sirika said the airport had the capacity to process seven million passengers annually, bigger than what Ghana could process annually.
He said the project was expected to be delivered within a period of two years, adding that as at the time the present administration came on board, the level of work was below 30 per cent.
He added that the project was also bedeviled with various technical challenges which included foundation design change, inaccessibility to apron, inadequate apron, master plan distortion, water and sewage provision, litigation and inadequate power supply.
In the meantime, the Bangladeshi government on Thursday signed a 240 million dollars financing agreement with the World Bank to help improve management and production in marine and coastal fisheries and aquaculture.
The Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project will help improve fisheries management systems, infrastructure and value chain investments.
This will also encourage private sector investment to increase the availability and quality of sea fish, said the Washington-based lender.
Kazi Azam, Senior Secretary of Economic Relations Division of Bangladesh, and Qimiao Fan, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides in Dhaka.
According to the bank, it will also support reforms in fisheries policies and regulations.
“In the last decade, the fisheries sector accounted for around four per cent of Bangladesh’s economy and is the country’s second largest export earning sector after garments,” said Fan.
“World Bank financing will aim to expand coastal and marine fisheries with the goal of further increasing the fisheries sector’s contribution to the economy,” he said.
In 16 coastal districts, World Bank said the project will set up community co-management associations with fishing communities, enabling them to adopt supplementary and alternative livelihoods.
While empowering fishing communities, especially women through skills development and nutrition awareness, the project will also establish 100 model fishing villages, it said.
“For Bangladesh, the fisheries sector is a major driver for growth. The marine and coastal fisheries have significant potential for sustainable and higher production,” said Azam.
“The project will directly contribute to Bangladesh’s Blue Economy initiatives.”
