The aerotropolis concept and Nigerian aviation
It comprises aviation-intensive businesses and related enterprises extending up to 25 kilometers outward from major airport, with the airport as the centre.Aerotropolis is the merging of two words—aero and metropolis. The whole idea is to find a single word to represent the emerging concept of an aviation-based development centre. People are already familiar with the […]
It comprises aviation-intensive businesses and related enterprises extending up to 25 kilometers outward from major airport, with the airport as the centre.
Aerotropolis is the merging of two words—aero and metropolis. The whole idea is to find a single word to represent the emerging concept of an aviation-based development centre. People are already familiar with the concept of a hub. The aerotropolis concept however goes far beyond what we know about a hub. The Aerotropolis is more of a commercial and social development concept, in which the airport area serves at a hub, or magnet around which other business and social development revolve. Metropolis means a sprawling area, developed with housing, social facilities, road network, telecommunications and other business areas including entertainment and recreation.
For a metropolis to revolve around an airport there must be something the airport is offering that is of immense benefit to this metropolis. Imagine informal markets that developed around railway depots where farmers travelled from long distances in the hinterland can easily sell off their farm produce hardly alighting ,right on the train rail. That soon attracted traders and consumers and developed into a sprawling market. The attraction was far cheaper prices and good bargains—as both traders and consumers could buy direct from farmers.
The same way the airport could serve as a hub for a whole lot of things –from transit for goods and services—air cargo to what we already are used to –passenger traffic. The key however is a conscious and planned effort to develop the airport terminal to provide adequate facilities that would allow for the easy and affordable inflow and outflow of goods and services around it. The advantages which air travel has over other means of transportation are well known. Air travel is definitely much faster than any other means of transportation known to mankind. This is the competitive advantage which aviation has over and above all others—road, rail, ship, et la. The swiftness and timeliness of aviation makes it the means of choice for several areas of industry and social life. Aviation is key to a flourishing global business of growing and selling fruits ,vegetables and flowers. Without the aircraft and air travel, this global business in perishable agricultural produce worth N250 billion (2010 figures) to African countries that participate, would not exist. The Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah has been very keen on the aerotropolis concept because it would work in Nigeria and would create fresh areas of wealth and contribute its own quota to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
The aerotropolis project will bring about the development of new 5-star hotels, new housing estates and luxury houses targeted primarily at pilots and air support staff and other aviation professionals; auto and technical repair shops ,new medical facilities nearby, cinemas, entertainment, casinos, hair salons, discount shops, duty-free shops, even schools and recreation centres. Another pointer to what an aerotropolis could bring to Lagos is the Ajao area which adjoins the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA1) that for many years was the country’s major connection to the rest of the world by air. Ajao area and adjoining Ajao Estate has one of the highest concentrations of hotels and relaxation centres in Lagos. The reason is obvious. Examples of great airport cities or aerotropolises include: – Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport is largely credited for conceptualizing the world’s first airport city with more than 58,000 people who work daily within the airport ground.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, US covers more than 29.8 square miles. It is ranked third in terms of operations and seventh in terms of passengers. Over 2,000 companies are located on the airport’s property.
Munich Airport, Germany, has a full-service hospital, a full-service grocery store, two bakeries, a swimming pool and spa, a microbrewery and a huge, open-air covered forum that serves as a concert venue.
Last April, the City of Ekurilieni, located near Johannesburg hosted the World Airport Cities Conference. Ekurilieni is a growing airport city.
The recent signing of an agreement between the Chinese government and Nigeria for the building of five new modern airport terminals in the country is a big boost to the aerotropolis. Already work has commenced at the new airport terminals scheduled for Lagos MMIA1,Kano (Malam Aminu Kano airport),Enugu(Akanu Ibiam Airport),Abuja (Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport),and the Port Harcourt International airport.
The rehabilitation and remodeling project involving 22 airport terminals round the country which was initiated last year by the Aviation minister is also expected to give a new lease of life to these airports and both existing and potential users. About a dozen of these have been completed—GAT in Lagos, GAT in Abuja, Aminu Kano, Kano; Yola airport, Sokoto airport, Akanu Ibiam, Enugu, Maiduguri, Owerri, Port Harcourt Airport.
Another key area that should help in achieving the aerotropolis project is the recovery of undeveloped parcels of land which were left for the future development of the various airports. In Lagos for example.
Dati is coordinating general manager of aviation agencies