Chairman , Board of Directors, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has raised concern over abandoned projects across Nigeria’s airports especially the Murtala Muhammed International airport (MMIA), Lagos, saying there must be deliberate plan to inclue funds for the projects in the next fiscal year.
This is just as he said the contractors for the construction of the second runway at the Mallam Aminu Kano International airport in Kano, are set to commence work.
Ganduje stated these shortly after a tour of Lagos airport on Sunday.
According to him: ‘There is no doubt that this (Lagos airport) is the biggest and the busiest international airport in West Africa. We have to thank Mr. President, within two years, he has been able to improve our airports, especially international airports, Lagos, Abuja and Kano. We have visited Kano. We saw the massive improvement of the airport, massive work that is going on. Even a second runway will soon commence in Kano, in fact, the contractor is now mobilizing on site, we saw their equipment on ground .
“But we have identified some challenges after these tours, pertaining to safety, security and infrastructure and the challenge of abandoned projects, there are of different types, some are by the Federal Ministry of Aviation and other agencies as a result of paucity of funds. So we need to examine them and provide budgets for them as soon as possible “, he said.
Ganduje noted that improving safety, security and infrastructure at the airports remain government’s priority adding that Nigeria’s airports facilities must be at par with their global counterparts.
“We have seen a lot of improvements in Lagos airport, we have seen new scanners all over, we have seen new e-gates making the international airport real international and comparable to many developed international airports.
He expressed concerns over the activities of the country’s various security agencies at Nigeria’s entry airports demanded better coordination just as he declared that government will no longer condone corrupt activities around the airports.
He said “ We have to thank Mr. President for creating an enabling environment for private airlines to thrive. The degree of mortality of private airlines was very high in Nigeria. If we start mentioning those now in the graveyard, I’m sure it will take a lot of our time. But by creating an enabling environment, the private airlines now can be profitable in Nigeria.”
Speaking on how to build a good image for the country by relevant security bodies manning the airports, the board Chairman affirmed that there must be better coordination among the Customs, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the military, Department of State Security (DSS), Civil Defense and police in discharging their duties, adding that “we expect them to develop high standards so that our country will be proud of them.”
“They must have good coordination and build good attitude for providing services, I think is very, very important. The issue of corruption, we should have zero tolerance to corruption so that passengers can get things done easily so that our international passengers will not have a bad image about the country.”
Whilst he affirmed that President Bola Tinubu is desirous of completing the Abuja airport second runway, Alhaji Ganduje explained that the federal government will ensure even development of infrastructure at airports at the various regions of Nigeria.
He further said government desires to develop infrastructure that will aide interconnectivity across Africa adding that “We are trying to see how we can mobilize other African countries so that we can have easy transportation, direct connectivity. That will reduce the cost of air tickets. That will reduce the bureaucracy in getting visas. That will reduce the time. And that will increase the business quota in Africa.”
