The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says the nation will experience a significant upsurge in passenger, cargo and aircraft traffic in Nigerian airports by the last quarter of 2016.

This is contained in a statement issuedon Mondayin Abuja by Mr Yakubu Dati, General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN.

According to the statement, the completion and inauguration of most of the terminal and other related projects at these airports will encourage increase in traffic.

It stated further that with improvements in terminal and airside facilities at the airports, a number of local airlines in the country have already started expanding their route networks.

According to the statement, some foreign airlines with Lagos as their only destination have also begun to show interest in operating into Malam Aminu Kano and Port Harcourt International Airports respectively.

“Qatar Air is one of such airlines, following the recent signing of Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Qatar.

“Significant increase in passenger, aircraft and cargo traffic at Nigerian airports, especially those managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, became noticeable towards the end of last year.”

The statement said that the figure for passenger movements in all the airports in September was 316, 680, which grew to 318, 503 in October; 328,652 in November and 336,652 in December.

It added that during the same period in 2015, cargo movements grew steadily to 13, 504, 252 in September; 15, 435, 842 in October; 16, 102, 686 in November and 16, 267, 208 in December.

The statement stated that other factors likely to influence the growth of passenger and cargo traffic in 2016 include the completion of cargo terminals at designated airports across the country. (NAN)