His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has disclosed that 2000 jobs will be created when the expansion project for the construction of the Lungi International Airport commences.
“2000 jobs will be created by this project for the youths when the construction starts proper. This is a big day for Lungi and Port Loko as my government has given them many things,” President Bio stated.
That there is no need to spend over $300 million on the construction of a new airport when there is already an existing one that could be improved on and create a transportation linkage between Lungi and Freetown.
That the construction of the airport will lead to an increase in economic activities, and that it will help in boosting the tourism sector among other things.
The president confirmed that they cancelled the Mamamah project based on the fact that it would have been a loan burden on the people and would have affected the economic livelihood of Lungi, adding that they accepted the offer made by the Summa Group of Company who decided that they will invest their personal sum of $270 million to construct the airport and operate it and then give it back to government.
That the dream of the Lungi Airport being an actual international airport has become an actualized dream as it has been made possible by the launching of the project.
He maintained that currently the airport is handling about 200000 to 300000 passengers which he said is not enough adding that when construction would have been completed by the Summa Group, the airport will handle 1000000 passengers within a year.
He noted that they will improve and change the present facilities of the airport noting that they have already changed some of the facilities like the fire engine, the runway lights, the ambiance system, emergency system among others.
A representative from the Summa Group expressed that they believe in the great potential of Sierra Leone and Lungi International Airport noting that as the reason they have not hesitated to make the investment of $270 million on the project.
He disclosed that they will complete the project within 24 months which is a 2 years period. He thanked the government of Sierra Leone for giving them the opportunity to participate in such infrastructural development
