The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has embarked on full revenue generation drive at all the airports across the country.
The Tide observed that the revenue committee set up by FAAN began revenue generation drive at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, last Thursday, as members were seeing going from one business centre to another to ascertain the level of compliance.
As at the time of filing this report on Monday, the committee had sealed some business centres that had not renewed their yearly rental fee.
Some of the business centres that were sealed by the committee include the  UBA, Genesis fast food, and some car rental services at the arrival terminal building.
The Genesis fast food premises was later unsealed after the intervention of some meaningful stakeholders. But the UBA was not lucky as its ATM was completely sealed.
A bank official told The Tide under condition of anonymity that the bank paid the sum of N24 million as rent to FAAN, last year, pointing out that they need some time to recoup for the next payment.
When the Acting Head of the Corporate Affairs of the airport, Mr Kunle Akinbode, was contacted for clarification, he said that the issue of rent is a responsibility of every business operator at the airport.
“This is not a peculiar issue in Port Harcourt airport, the committee is from the headquarters, and they are doing it in all the airports.
“There was an agreement signed with the business operators before they started operations at the airport, and they know that it is a yearly payment, and it is through this rent that FAAN generates money to pay staff, and there is no sentiment about it.
“Anyone that is not willing to pay has an alternative to relocate, because doing business at the airport all over the world is expensive, and that is what they signed in the agreement”, he said.

By: Corlins Walter