BY SALIU SALIU
KANO Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, on Monday, declared its interest to acquire the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
Acting President, KACCIMA, Amb. Usman Darma, made the declaration while briefing newsmen in Kano, on Monday.
This followed the Federal Government’s announcement that the Kano, Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt international airports would be concessioned.
Darma said the decision of KACCIMA to acquire the airport was informed by its previous experience with the privatisation of the electricity company, which was acquired by people from outside the state, noting that the services were unfriendly and expensive.
He said, “We have consulted key stakeholders such as our business mogul and father, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, commercial and private airliners, hoteliers and other relevant stakeholders in a bid to take over the concession of the facility.
“We have formed a technical committee, saddled with the responsibility to look at the guidelines and how to acquire the facility based on the guidelines set by the Federal Government.
“We have given them two weeks to look at the guidelines and report back to us to avoid any chances whereby the Federal Government will take us unawares by handing over the facility to an outside company or entity.
“It is also part of the guidelines that foreign partners must be brought on board in order to get the concession. I believe if we invite foreign partners, they would help us manage the business more efficiently because they have more skills and wherewithal.”
“Acquiring the concession is a great benefit to the people of Kano as it would subsidise services for them, generate revenue for the government and provide employment opportunities,” the acting president noted.
