LASG, FAAN and MMIA access road

Cosmas Okereafor

The pronouncement by the Lagos State Government recently that the access road to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), currently under construction will be completed by the first quarter of 2019, jolted many if not all aviation stakeholders, particularly the Federal Airport Authority (FAAN), the owner of the access road, if you permit me.
Since the construction began, FAAN, the landlord of 22 airports across the country has remained on top of its game, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery at the gateway. The completion of the ten lane access road from all indication will automatically catapult the foremost airport into another class, and indeed put a stop to the commentaries such as‘’the road to one of the busiest airport in Nigeria is a death trap’’.
The current Management of FAAN under Engr. Saleh Dunoma, all these years the access road was in bad condition together with his Management team ensured that challenges of harassing unsuspecting passengers within and outside the terminal building, under whatever guise did not occur. This was achieved by putting the security arm of the authority AVSEC, at red alert, thereby ensuring that, those who do not have business at the airport at anytime are kept in abeyance.

This measure interestingly is also supported by other security personnel from other agencies equally stationed at various entrance gate of the airport. The heavy presence of uniformed men at the airports tells any intruder that it is no longer business as usual, given the security challenge some parts of the country are grappling with.

Also the regular cutting of grasses along the access road and within the airport environment further reveals how determined the authority is, in ridding off undesirable elements who may want to hide in the area at night to harass passengers and workers alike.
It is on record that since FAAN got the prestigious United State’s Federal Aviation Administration category one re-certification in 2015, it has being one laudable achievement after the other.
That the present Management has remained focused on its quest to making all the airports in the country a place of comfort for the travelling public and various stakeholders, all year round cannot be over emphasized.

The vision of the authority to be among the best 50 airports group in the world in many ways has continued to yield fruits. This was justified not too long ago, when it was announced by the Airport Council International (ACI), that Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja had been chosen as the best improved airport in safety, a key recipe from all indication for aviation management and development.
The award Certificate accordingly was officially presented to FAAN in far away Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, the venue of Airport Council International (ACI), General Assembly meeting held on October, 2018. Not too long from that time, the authority also successfully hosted the 59th Airport Council International Africa Regional Conference and Exhibitions to the commendation of every one that participated.

The designation of FAAN’S training School to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)/Airport Council International (ACI), training Centre almost the same period further attests to the unassuming achievement of the authority.
With these landmark achievements and many more in the offing, FAAN as always may have positioned for adequate service delivery in the new year and thereafter.
Meanwhile, over 500 Aviation Security and Airports Rescue and Fire fighting Officers who were recruited sometimes in the past to address perennial shortage of manpower and ageing workforce have also undergone key operational training locally and internationally especially officers from Aviation Security, Fire and Safety Departments, a measure the authority says was necessary to enhance operational efficiency which is key in the whole gamut of aviation operations.
Facility upgrade at Kaduna Airport interestingly resulted to the elevation of the Airport to Category 9 (CAT), and t Bhus for stakeholders was a remarkable achievement and has lead to weekly international flight operations of wide body aircraft in, and out of kaduna airport that once served as alternate airport to Abuja, during the hay days of runway resurfacing.
The linking of Abuja Airport also to the railway line according to the authority was a major boost to economic activities and as such has continued to attract commendation of consumers of aviation services who now connect easily with the terminal building without much delays

The migration to a brand new independent power supply following the acquisition of six Brand New Industrial Generators with capacity of 29.1MVA already put into full use also speaks volume, given that this move ultimately has addressed the issue of power challenge occasionally experienced at the premier gateway.
These monumental achievements has equally strengthened cargo airports due to the installation modern equipment, targeted all the same to boost agro-allied businesses and this was in addition with the installation and commissioning of brand New caroussels at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), purely meant to speed up baggage facilitation as well as to advance passenger comfort in the process.
While the authority remains upbeat on its primary assignment of promoting seamless air transport business in Nigeria, it must be said also that FAAN’s management under Engr Saleh Dunoma abinitio has continued to engage on positive discussion with Public Private Partnership (PPP), investors, an approach he believes would snowball and inject new ideas, necessary for modern airport management
The legion of achievements currently billowing across the airports in the country for stakeholders and consumers of aviation services alike are attestation to the appreciation of the fact that Management of the Authority, apart from taking the industry to the next level has equally entrenched safety consciousness and thereby succeeded in creating environment where aviation operations are carried out in line with global best standard practices.