Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, MD, FAAN
By Sade Williams
A former spokesman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Yakubu Dati, has called on stakeholders to throw their weight behind the call and move by the Managing Director of the Authority , Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, to rid Nigeria’s airports of bad practices.
In a statement on Thursday, Dati, said: ‘airlines, service providers and stakeholders should collaborate with and support the MD’s efforts in enhancing seamless operations in the gateway international airports.’
According to Dati, Kuku’s charge to Security Agencies and frontline partners should not be viewed as an indictment but a wake-up call to weed off bad eggs and sustain the fresh narrative in line for a better service delivery.
“Mrs Olubunmi Kuku’s emphasis on Safety and Security can only be realized with a wholesome addendum of passenger satisfaction.
“As a team player, the MD FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku and her management team, are repositioning the Agency to fit into the Hon Minister Festus Kenymo’s overall agenda of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”, he added.
For taking proactive steps to ensure seamless operations during the Yuletide season, especially in the area of passenger satisfaction, safety and security and for challenging Security Agencies to key into efforts by the FAAN in facilitating passengers processing, Kuku has received commendations from stakeholders.
Kuku, had on Tuesday, expressed displeasure at the persistent problems of touting and harassment of passengers at screening ponts, especially at Lagos airport, saying investors were complaining about it.
The MD convened a crucial meeting with the heads of all security agencies at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos and launched “Operation AirClean,” making it clear that she has the full backing of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo.
To improve screening efficiency, she ordered the immediate dismantling of search tables at screening points and mandated that technology be leveraged to reduce manual searches and improve interactions with passengers.
She emphasised the urgency to clean up airport terminals and eliminate unpatriotic practices among officers.
Her call to action for the leaders of security agencies was straightforward: it is no longer business as usual. The initiative was developed to improve collaboration among agencies and to streamline passenger search processes, ultimately enhancing the overall travel experience.
It also aims to eliminate extortion and harassment of passengers, as well as to completely eradicate touting activities at the airport.
Collaboration and intelligence sharing among agencies were also deemed essential for enhancing service delivery.
The FAAN MD announced that her administration would deploy mystery shoppers equipped with body cameras to assess the performance of officials at both arrival and departure security and screening areas.
The meeting was highly participatory, and representatives from various agencies proposed concrete solutions for improving services to enhance the passenger experience while eliminating touting and soliciting.
The heads of the security agencies committed to heightened oversight of their officers, ensuring accountability on duty. It was also resolved that secure and designated area will be provided as a waiting area for visitors while mobile courts will be set up for expedited persecution of offenders.
Kuku reaffirmed that FAAN directors would actively engage in monitoring efforts, and existing task forces were directed to intensify their activities.
