The five international airport terminals being remodelled to meet international standard, started by former Aviation Minister, Stella Uduah, are set to be completed by the first quarter of 2016, the permanent secretary of the aviation ministry, Binta Bello, has stated.

The terminals are located in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Enugu and will cost $500 million, including $100 million counterpart funding from the federal government.

The remodelling is being done on a Built, Operate and Transfer, BOT, basis.

According to a statement issued by a spokesperson for the ministry, James Odaudu, Bello made the announcement in an interview, where she said money was not a problem for the projects.

“We don’t have any financial impediment that would slow down the work that is in progress. For instance there is no problem of finance with the finance of the five on-going international terminals.

“The five international airport remodeling terminals are being financed by the Chinese EXIM bank loan and federal government’s counterpart funding of $100 million, which has been paid at the commencement of the projects. I therefore assured that the contractors will deliver the project by the first quarter of 2016,” she said.

Bello stated further that with about 45 per cent of the work done, the contractors have all they need to meet the nine months completion deadline, adding, however, that paucity of funds was responsible for the lack of upgrade of the 22 domestic airports.