Police seek concessionaires for underutilised aircraft

Airlines and charter operators in need of aircraft to boost their operations have the opportunity to acquire them as the Nigerian Police Force, (NPF) is set to concession under-utilized aircraft and facilities in its airwing.

A circular by the NPF, titled: ‘Concession of Nigerian Police Airwing Aircraft and Facilities’ — signed by the Deputy Inspector of Police for the Inspector General of Police — stated that the project involves the concession of the Nigerian Police airwing’s under-utilized aircraft and facilities in Abuja and Lagos to a private sector partner that will rehabilitate, operate and transfer (ROT) the facilities and aircraft back to the Nigerian Police after recovering their investment with a reasonable profit margin.

“In compliance with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Establishment Act (2005), and the National Policy on Public Private Partnerships, (N4P), and Nigerian Police submitted an Outline Business Case, (OBC) to the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, (ICRC) for consideration. Having assessed and affirmed the bankability of procuring a suitable for the Police Air wing, the ICRC has issued an OBC compliance certificate to enable the Nigerian Police to commence the procurement process,” the circular read.

There is a private proponent who had submitted a proposal on the project but in order to ensure transparency, compliance and value for money as required by the extant statute, the project would be procured under a Swizz Challenge Procurement Methodology which requires that if the original project proponent is not the most responsive bid, the most responsive bid then wins the Swizz Challenge PPP Procurement and becomes the preferred project proponent, the circular revealed.

Listed requirements to pre-qualified for consideration as a prospective PPP partner for the project include 25 years of combined experience in the aviation industry, air transport licence issued by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, at least 25 years of combined experience in ground handling equipment and support services, specialized experience in aviation fueling and handling supply and aviation depot construction, at least 25 years experience in travel and tour or as registered agent and verifiable evidence of financial capability, financing sources and reputable bankers.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.