Africa’s Biggest Airport on The Way as AFDB Announces Important Partnership
- Ethiopian Airlines and the African Development Bank have signed a historic agreement to construct the largest airport on the continent.
- The $7.8 billion project will greatly expand Ethiopia's aviation capacity, increasing it from the current 17 million passengers annually
- Ethiopia's finance minister, Ahmed Shide, commended the deal and underlined the AfDB's broader financial support
Legit.ng journalist Zainab Iwayemi has 5-year-experience covering the Economy, Technology, and Capital Market.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Ethiopian Airlines have inked a historic deal to build the continent's biggest airport, Bishoftu International Airport in Ethiopia.
Source: Getty Images
Ethiopia's aviation capacity will be significantly increased by the $7.8 billion project, from the present 17 million passengers per year to 60 million by 2040.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Nnenna Nwabufo, the AfDB Vice President for Regional Development, Integration, and Strategy, and Mr. Mesfin Tasew, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group.
The new airport will be built in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, in Abusera, close to Bishoftu, according to a ThisDay report.
Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia's finance minister, praised the agreement and emphasized the AfDB's wider financial assistance, which includes $1.2 billion in investments for important economic projects.
Additionally, he called on the Bank to back Ethiopia's current macroeconomic reform initiative as well as ground-breaking initiatives in regional integration and renewable energy.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank, commended Ethiopia's strong economic performance, pointing to the country's 8.1% GDP growth in the last 12 months and the quick development of Addis Ababa under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
He reiterated the Bank's complete commitment to ensuring the successful completion of the Bishoftu International Airport, referring to it as a showpiece infrastructure project for Africa.
FG to Recertify 2 Nigerian
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the airports in Kano and Port Harcourt are set to undergo recertification, a statement released by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has highlighted.
Source: Getty Images
By bringing the airports into compliance with international standards, this effort seeks to improve safety.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that FAAN Board Chairman Abdullah Ganduje and FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku disclosed this during a tour of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Tuesday, February 18.
She added that FAAN was embarking on Kano and Port Harcourt airports recertification.
Kuku claimed that FAAN was giving infrastructure and security upgrades at major airports top priority, with an emphasis on putting in place bomb-detecting systems and updating antiquated security equipment.
Kuku emphasised that major improvements were planned for the airports in Lagos and Abuja and that terminal restoration projects had already begun at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).
Additionally, she mentioned that FAAN was improving accessibility for people with disabilities.
Lagos State Set To Begin Lekki-Epe International Airport Construction
Legit.ng reported that the Lagos State Government has finalised plans to commence the construction of the highly anticipated Lekki-Epe International Airport.
Over the weekend, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a construction company, Summa Group for the construction of the International Airport.
In a statement on his X handle, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu underscored the strategic importance of the project.
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Source: Legit.ng
