MMIA certification: Sirika pledges sustenance

Abuja airport may follow suit this year

Following Monday’s certification of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Aerodrome, the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has pledged to maintain the tempo, expressing hope that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) may also be certified before the year end.

This is just as he has expressed joy at the certification of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) which became the first and only country in Africa to attain the 2015 9001 Certification.

Both airport certification and the NiMET Certification were handed to the minister by Managing Director FAAN, Engineer Saleh Dunoma and NiMET Director General, Professor Sani Mashi.

The Minister who was elated by both achievements said that when the Abuja Airport was shut down for runway repairs it was a plus but with the certification is a bigger plus.

“It’s is a huge achievement in the build up to the election of President Muhammed Buhari we promised to bring strong institutions and strong institutions begets strong nations and we have hastened to certify our airports by standardizing them to reflect certain minimum standards of safety.”

“Shutting down Abuja is a plus but the certification is a bigger plus. We want to ensure our ministry is strong, focused, effective and that of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, we hope before the end of the year will be certified.”

“Now the world will know that flights in and around Nigeria are safe and secure and that will increase the value of our airports and will shore up the value of our infrastructure especially are we are geared towards concessioning.”

Managing Director Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Engineer Saleh Dunoma who spoke while presenting the certificate to the Minister said the certification has created standardisation and uniformity in the aerodrome making it at par with others everywhere despite different management.

He stated that with the MMIA now, FAAN can now concentrate on the NAIA,”With MMIA done we will move to certify NAIA and from there move to certify the other international airports. FAAN is determined to maintain and surpass the aerodrome certification. It was a concerted effort with all our sister agencies as well as the Airports Council International (ACI) and the ICAO regional office and we are appreciative of their support and the support of the honorable Minister who stood steadfast and created the enabling environment for this to happen.”

Chukwuemeke Iwelumoh