After a recent tour of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has praised the significant improvements made under the new management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
He lauded the efforts of the FAAN management and staff for their dedication to enhancing the airport’s facilities and passenger experience.
During his visit, Keyamo highlighted the noticeable upgrades, including better lighting, new signage, and improved restroom facilities.
He particularly commended the management’s proactive approach to addressing passenger concerns, such as harassment and extortion.
Keyamo emphasized the installation of new signs and QR codes designed to combat these issues, urging passengers to use these resources to report any misconduct.
“The management and staff have worked diligently to make the airport more welcoming, these improvements, though modest, represent a significant shift from the past and are aimed at creating a more comfortable environment for travelers. This is a step towards our broader vision for the airport, though there is still more to be done.”
The Minister also addressed the ongoing cooperation between FAAN and other agencies like customs and immigration, emphasizing that FAAN, while not directly employing these agencies, maintains the authority to address misconduct.
He assured that any personnel crossing the line would be removed from the airport.
Looking forward, Keyamo discussed the government’s plans to concession the airport to global partners, with the aim of running it more professionally and improving the overall passenger experience.
He confirmed that the process would be conducted transparently, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for openness and excellence.
“We are going public very soon and it is going to be the best. I spoke to Mr. President about it. Mr. President said, Minister, go for the best”.
“Nobody is interested in whoever is coming to do it. The process that was done before, maybe you asked that there was a process before we came into office. We halted that process because there were complaints. I am sure you know that. There were litigations. People went to court. It was not transparent enough. But under this government, under Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, it is going to be as transparent as possible. The president gave us marching orders”, he stressed.
“Go and do it as transparent as possible. Look for the best bid, the best hand to come and turn around our efforts and run our airports. And that is where we are going ultimately”.
FAAN Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, echoed the Minister’s sentiments on public-private partnerships, stressing the necessity of private sector involvement for infrastructure development.
She noted ongoing efforts to engage with private sector partners and other government institutions to advance airport development projects and enhance route connectivity.
“We are committed to collaborating with both local and international partners to drive infrastructure improvements and better serve our passengers,” Kuku stated.
“The recent upgrades are just the beginning; we are exploring various partnership models to accelerate our development plans.”
Both officials affirmed that while the recent improvements are commendable, they are part of a broader strategy to transform MMIA and other Nigerian airports into world-class facilities.
