The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu has commended the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his display of leadership, cooperation and commitment to the course of FAAN.
The commendation is coming on the heels of the quick response of the Governor in helping to arrest the threats of drainage water from destroying Murtala Mohammed International Airport MMIA.
Capt. Yadudu in a chat with newsmen in Lagos at the weekend after a tour of the airport said, drainage water from the three Local Government Areas, Ejigbo, Ikeja and Isolo flow into the airport destroying not only the fence but constitute a huge threat to other facilities.
According to him, earlier this year, one of the fence caved him and they had to commence an emergence fencing, adding that, the water accompanied with debris attracts birds and other animals to the airport.
“A lot of water was coming with a lot of debris that attracted so many things at one time this year it was so high it broke down the fence in the airport over the bridge and we had to scamper around to do emergency fencing to cover it and we called Lagos State, we show them the situation water from almost three local government was pilling up and disrupting our situation and also bringing so many unwanted attention from animals and birds”.
He stated that, when they complained to the Governor, he promised to assist and to their surprise, the government immediately mobilized they contractor to the areas and thus far, a lot had to be done in addressing the drainage problem.
“I want to express our most profound appreciation and gratitude to his excellency the governor of Lagos State for his very strong display of cooperation and leadership because we met him few months ago we complained about the particular drainage he promised to assist us in solving the problem. It was to our astonishment that we went on inspection, we saw not only work on going, not original work, there is a lot of heavy concrete, the company has already mobilised, they have already cleared most of the area of plastic, debris and on both sides almost 100 meters of concrete have been laid on both sides and it is progressing rapidly”.
“When he committed to assisting us, we didn’t know it will be so quickly and so decisively and I think it is only fair for us to appreciate and commend his display of leadership and commitment, we thank him very much and we think he is a strong partner for us in progress and we assure him and his government and the people of Lagos State for FAAN’s support and performance in the discharge of our service to Lagos State and Nigeria in general”.
Also speaking, the Director General, NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu said, the water comes with such much debris that attracts birds to the area which had recently contributed to incidents of bird strikes.
“We toured the airport, we have been to places in the airport, to be honest have been in the aviation industry in Nigeria for almost 40 years some of the stuff I saw today I never knew they existed and it gives us a better understanding and a better view of the difficulties that the management of the MMIA is facing”.
“Am sure of recent you have people having issues of bird strike and what I saw today was amazing. Drainage from Ejigbo, from Ikeja from everywhere, they all flow into the airport, it is not just the water, it comes with all sorts of rubbish, plastics, I mean disgusting stuff and those attracts the birds which contributes to the issues of bird strikes”.
He also mentioned that, the runway was also under threats as the water that flows in sinks into the ground and creates damage underneath.
“Now this water coming into the MMIA airport settles, it is not only the issue of bird strike it has other subsequent damages because it settles and sinks e under the runway and it recreates other damages to the airport facilities, it is an ongoing project and there is progress, is there more to do, certainly but there is a lot more work to do”.
He thanked the Lagos State Government for their immersed assistance to FAAN in ensuring safety at MMIA.
“I found out that the MD FAAN have reached out to his Excellency the Lagos State Governor, the Lagos State Government and they are working together and the efforts I saw physically today in cleaning up those drainages is quite commendable”.
