Zenith Bank Plc has unfolded plans to back the airport automation project, with N2.3 billion. The project, being handled by Maevis Company Limited, with technical support from Unisys Corporation, is aimed at providing the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) with a world class airport operations management system. Four airports; Murtala Muhammed International Airport , Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt airports, are covered under the project.

Among other benefits, the project inaugurated early this week is designed to deliver a robust Aviation Operation Data Base (AODB) system that gives FAAN and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) total control over accurate data relating to airport passenger movement among others, as well as providing a fully automated pricing and billing system and integrate a payment gateway, including an aviation card and automated Point of Sales (POS).

With the successful completion of the project, FAAN would be in a better position to avoid loss of revenue through under-declared cargo and other sharp practices.

Zenith, which is providing the bulk of the financing for this project was also been involved in similar projects in other critical areas of the economy.

For instance, leading eight other Nigerian banks as financial adviser/lead arranger, Zenith Bank facilitated $1.5 billion for Zenon Oil, an indigenous downstream player to build 155 million litres depot, the largest storage facility by any indigenous oil firm.

Again, it also acted as the financial adviser, syndicated $280,000,000 for Kepco Energy Resource Limited to acquire stake in Egbin power station.