The Nigerian aviation industry is set to witness another milestone in airport landscape
improvement with the recent agreement signed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and FCI International Ltd (the initiator
of the Nigeria Aviation Awards, NIGAV.
This follows the approval of Capt. Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu, the Managing
Director of FAAN on a land lease agreement which was conveyed by the
Company Secretary/Legal adviser (Head of the Directorate of Legal
Services) to FAAN Mr. Clifford Imade Omozeghian to Fortune Idu the
Managing Director of FCI International Nigeria/Chairman of NIGAV.

Fortune Idu, the Managing Director of FCI International Nigeria/Chairman of NIGAV (left), Mr Clifford Imade Omozeghian Company Secretary/Legal adviser Head of the FAAN’s Directorate of Legal Services (right) exchanging the instrument of the Agreement.

The agreement is for the setting up a permanent befitting centre for development and promotion of international trade within the corridor of
the Murtala Mohammed International Airport which will be called the Nigeria Aviation (NIGAV) Conference and Exhibition Centre. This is coming as the FCI and the Nigeria Aviation industry is warming up towards one of the most iconic events of the industry, the prestigious Nigeria Aviation Awards and the Ministerial gala scheduled for 14th December 2019 at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The 2500 square metre centre is to project the best of Nigeria’s businesses and
enterprises and stand as a centre of industry promotion excellence.

The centre which will take off early next year is planned through three stages of development as envisioned by Mr. Idu. The first stage is to develop a 1000 sitter capacity hall that can hold 100 exhibition booths where all kinds of industry activities including open-to-public ceremonies can be held. The second stage is the building of meeting rooms, cafeteria for workshop and business hub meetings while the third stage
will be a multistory facility with aerial hall, underground parking, more meeting rooms, recreation and learning facilities.

Such facilities at the international airport area are often considered as investor’s gateway. The signing of this project by the Managing Director of FAAN is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s mandate of increasing indigenous capacity through a platform within the airport corridors where the numerous indigenous produce can be showcased as potential export commodities many of which can use air cargo services at the airport. Indeed this was a step towards further development of the aviation industry in Nigeria. The activities being envisaged at the Centre will bring people from all over the world thereby increasing air traffic flow into the country.

The NIGAV centre is a win-win for the air transport industry and Nigeria. It is planned to start hosting events from February 2020. Such events include: the Airport Business Summit and Expo, OPITeX for the oil and gas
pipeline expo, NIMPORT, Agro Air Logistics Conference. Hopefully the next Nigeria Aviation Awards will be held at the centre in 2020.