Aviation Experts Demand From FAAN, Improved Security, Passenger Safety, Others

Experts in the nation’s aviation sector have demanded from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) improved safety measures, revenue opportunity maximisation, passenger comfort, security and infrastructure standards improvement, among others at airports across the country.

In a meeting, held with the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, the experts under the aegis of Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), led by its President, Air Cdr. Demola Onitiju (rtd) on Tuesday, urged FAAN to enforce the compliance with Service Level Agreements (SLAs) signed between FAAN and concessionaires at the airports.

Onitiju also called for provision of better comfort for airport users, including the physically challenged passengers, who require separate facilities to access the terminal lounge.

He also demanded for regulation of concessionaires’ access to the newly commissioned terminals as well as a monitoring device to ensure that duty free shop operators sell only what they were granted FAAN’s approval to sell at the airports.

He explained that it is in the interest of the health safety of travellers who are consumers and in accordance with standard international best practices for FAAN to evolve some certification processes as well as establish who is selling what among the retail shop operators.

He lamented the menace of rats at the new terminal of the Lagos airport, which he said equally constitutes a health hazard to consumers and called for urgent action to end the menace.

ASRTI also reminded FAAN on the issue of establishing security fences at the airports in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)standards and harped on the need to relocate the Lagos airport toll gate and  also have two gates, such that there is an entry into and exit from the airport area.

In Onitiju’s words: “Those driving into the airport road area would then pay a toll, but while exiting at the exit point, they don’t pay, and vice versa. This ASRTI believes would help FAAN’s revenue generation.”

The FAAN MD, Kuku, in her response to ASRTI, acknowledged the contribution of ASRTI to the development of the aviation sector.

Kuku revealed that the ongoing infrastructure projects upgrade plans have already incorporated the needs of physically challenged passengers, noting that a brand-new elevator was already being installed.

According to her, FAAN was already working on a revalidation process for concessionaires, adding that the Business Development Directorate was also reviewing the activities of retail shop operators to check standards, while the challenges of security at the cargo section was being addressed by the Cargo Services Directorate.

She revealed that on assumption of office, there was a huge gap in fire simulator training for Airports Fire Personnel, but the gap was already being filled.

Commenting on the dilapidated road, linking FAAN Training School to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, she stated that her leadership succeeded in getting the Lagos State Government to indicate interest in contributing to the road repairs, adding that discussions were also ongoing with both the State Government and the Federal Government.

Kuku also revealed that some of the airport projects such as perimeter fencing of all the major airports were gigantic projects, far beyond what FAAN’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) could carry and therefore may require the federal government’s involvement.

She affirmed, however, that some aspects of the projects were already being done.